Mount (detail), for bell shrine

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This is a detail of the bronze mount for a bell shrine found at Inchaffray Abbey in Perthshire. The site was once an island, on which an abbey was founded in 1200. This shrine is earlier, dating from between 1000 and 1200.

This picture shows a detail of the openwork decoration of the mount. The interlaced strands were hollowed out in places, probably to take an inlay of other metal, or cut by grooves to give a textured appearance.

Some settlement may have occurred in the 11th century in the East Midlands of Scotland by Scandinavians who had spent some time in Ireland. The evidence includes place names, coin hoards with Irish coins, and objects such as this shrine.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-190-002-030-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.KA 32 A
• Date: Between 1000 and 1200
  
• Material: Bronze; with Celtic interlace
  Bell shrine mount / portion
  
• Dimensions:
• What: Bell shrine mount / portion
  
• Subject: Ecclesiastical bells (NMAS Classification)
  
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Perthshire, Inchaffray
  
• Event:
• Description: Part of a bell shrine mount of bronze with Celtic interlace, from Inchaffray
  
• References:
  • Graham-Campbell, James and Batey, Colleen E. Vikings in Scotland. An Archaeological Survey. Edinburgh: University Press, 1998, p 103. 
• Translations:
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