File:Medieval staff terminal (FindID 995353).jpg

English: A copper alloy finial originally attached to a cross-staff or similar, dating to the medieval period (c. 11th-12th centuries AD).

The object is composed of an intricate lattice-style openwork sphere, with interlacing lines forming lozenge-shaped holes. Each crossing point is decorated with a raised knob; these vary in size and shape, but are all broadly spherical. The top of the object, where the lattice meets in a central point, is decorated with five of these knobs, four smaller topped with one larger, irregular example.

The openwork body meets a base comprising four thicker vertical bands and four irregularly-sized gaps, one of which extends into the collar. The base of the object tapers inwards slightly and then flares out into a collar on the bottom edge. The collar is circular and flat, so that the object stands unsupported. This gap would have served as the attachment hole for the original cross-staff.

It is possible that these objects were ecclesiastical in nature, suggested by a similar example from Wixford, Warwickshire which was found close to a church (Bailey, 1994: 172, fig. 3). Other interpretations have suggested that these objects were sword pommels, although this identification has since been largely dismissed (London Museum, Medieval Catalogue, 1954: 23, no. 2).   

Cf. <a href="https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/72362">BH-B64636</a>.