Record

Detail of a silver spoon

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From St Ninian's Isle, Dunrossness, Shetland

Postcard of Detail of a silver spoon.
000-100-036-424-C
© National Museums Scotland

Detail of a silver spoon

This is a detail of the silver spoon 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. The objects probably belonged to a Pictish chief.

At the junction of the stem and the bowl there is a cast dog's head, with blue glass eyes. Its mouth extends to lick the bowl.

The St Ninian's Isle hoard contained eight silver bowls, 12 silver brooches, a sword pommel, two chapes, two eating utensils, three mounts and part of a porpoise's jawbone. They were buried under a church's floor, presumably for safekeeping.


Record details

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Online ID: 000-100-036-424-C
Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
Project: 0098: National Museums Scotland
Project description | View all records in project
Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.FC 276
Date: 8th century
Between 750 and 825
Material: Silver; rod-like stem curled into a loop; pointed tip of shallow bowl curves upward; junction of stem and bowl has a cast dog's head with blue glass eyes
Dimensions: 8.50" L
What: Spoon
Subject:
Who:
Where: Scotland, Shetland, St Ninian's Isle
Event:
Description: Spoon of silver with a cast dog's head with blue glass eyes at the junction of stem and bowl, from St Ninian's Isle, Pictish, 8th century
References:
  • Calder, Jenni. The wealth of a nation. Edinburgh: National Museums of Scotland and Glasgow: Richard Drew Publishing, 1989, p 118. 
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