File:Medieval mount (FindID 520463).jpg

English: Medieval circular decorative plaque (roundel) with a design of a eagle holding an ivy leaf in its beak. The plaque has a plain flat back and the design on the front in relief on a recessed background. The design was either cast or created by carving out the recessed areas, wear and remaining mud makes this hard to distinguish but it is likely that if cast the details were emphasised by chasing. The design has a plain line border at the edge and the central field is almost completely filled by an eagle walking left with left wing raised and an ivy leaf held in its beak. There is some old chips to the left edge which has removed c.10% of the flan. the feathers of the eagles tail and wing are emphasised and there are further indents on the body giving the effect of feathers. there is no evidence of surviving gilding or enamel. It is 32.4mm in diameter, 1.4mm thick and weighs 6.08g.

This is probably the central part of a two part mount which fitted within a frame. Examples include DENO-38F428, NARC-E68D80 and in particular BERK-F58E08 which also shows an eagle and is of comparative size and three armorial mounts found on the Thames Foreshore (Egan & Pritchard 1991:183-4), the latter three are larger than this example and have images of unidentified arms. These mounts are thought to have been used on leather work such as sword belts or harness but were also possibly box mounts. Alternatively it could be from the centre of the base of a bowl or mazer (drinking vessel). The parallels and general design suggest a late medieval, later 14th to early 15th century date. Eagles commonly symbolised strength, courage, farsightedness and immortality and were associated with st John the Evangelist whle Ivy could symbolise immortality or fidelity or the souls dependence on god. It also has associations with wine shops and was thought to prevent drunkedness, ideal for a drinking cup.