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Silver bowl

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From St Ninian's Isle, Dunrossness, Shetland

Silver bowl
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This silver bowl was found in a hoard containing 28 silver objects and part of the jaw of a porpoise, buried in a ruined chapel on St Ninian's Isle, at Dunrossness, on Shetland between 750 and 825. The objects probably belonged to a Pictish chief.

The sides of the bowl have been ornamented with a frieze of interlaced animals. The contours of the animals are marked by punched dots, which have also been added to the backgrounds.

The metalwork found in the St Ninian's Isle treasure shows the skill and accomplishment of Pictish craftsmen. The use of dotted backgrounds and some of the animal decoration are distinctive Pictish artistic traits.

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