File:ESS-879492 Figurine of a griffin (FindID 461576).jpg

English: Damaged and incomplete cast copper alloy terminal or mount in the form of a griffin. It would have been hollow with an elongated oval opening at the base. Only the front and right side of the creature survives. The surface of the metal is largely corroded and pitted, however there are elements where the original surface survive, mainly on the right wing and mane; this surface has a patchy light and dark brown patina, whilst the corroded areas of the metal are patchy light green.

The head is bird-like with a curved beak open beak represented by a triangular recess. There are two worn projections at the apex of the head, presumably from the ears. There are two raised circles just above the beak, forming eyes - the right eye of the creature has a white metal coating, possibly tin or silver. The head is triangular in both plan and section. There are details of a cast mane extending down either side of the head from the ears, joining on the neck where it terminates in a point on the chest. There are two cast curved horns overlaying the mane to either side of the head. The head is looking slightly to its right.

The remains of the two front feet are visible, there is a worn break where the front left foot would have been located, and a small, worn oval projection forming the front right foot. The left hand side of the body, and as such the hind left leg is missing, however the right hind leg survives; the haunch is well defined and pronounced, forming a raised rectangular section, where the joint is bent at a right angle, with the foot running along the base of the body.

The right hand side of the body is rectangular in plan. It is covered in a cast design of a wing (with patvhes missing due to corrosion), with individual elements cast into it to form the feathers. There are three rows of rectangular feathers, representing the coverts - contour feathers that cover the bases of the flight feathers. The outer section of the third row extends into elongated triangles to represent the primary feathers - outer flight feathers. Each of the individual feathers are covered in incised lines to form the barbs - the individual strands that make up a feather.

The inside of the mount is covered in oblique lines on the reverse of the wing, however the reverse of the head and front is slightly more irregular with some raised ridges from the casting process. The inside of the mount has a dark green patina.

There is a worn break running down the left side of the creatures body, and is broken in a straight line extending down from the location of the ears. The remaining edges of the creature are worn, however they appear to follow the original edges of the artefact, particularly seen at the apex of the wing where less damage has occured. The underside of the creature has an area of original surface on the base of the reverse foot.

The griffin is 49.54mm long.

It is 39.91mm high at the head, and 26.15mm high across the body/wings.

The head is 17.36mm long and 11.68mm wide.

It is 19.71mm wide across the front of the body (measured from front left to front right foot).

The metal is 12.67mm thick at the chest, 5.74mm thick across the wing, and 10.32mm thick across the right haunch.

The right hind leg is 30.73mm long.

The white metal coating for the eye is 2.08mm in diameter.

Weight 65.5 grams.