Pieces pf a silver flask

Add to album

These pieces from the mouth and neck of a silver flask were found at Traprain Law in East Lothian. They were part of a hoard containing over 150 silver objects, mainly tableware, buried between 410 and 425 AD.

The flask is too fragmentary to determine with certainty its original shape. Originally it had niello decoration on the lower part, but this disappeared during restoration work.

All the silver in the large Traprain Law hoard was treated as scrap, with virtually all of it cut up and bent over. It probably represents payment to ensure the loyalty of a friendly chief, but other theories include payment for warriors or loot.

Record details

To search on related items, click any underlined text below.

• Online ID: 000-100-039-666-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.GVA 6
• Date: Deposited between 410 and 425 AD
  
• Material: Silver; mouth and lower part of neck; broad flat rim; band of slanting leaves
  Flask / portion
  
• Dimensions: Weight 8.95 oz
  
• What: Flask / portion
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, East Lothian, Traprain Law
  
• Event:
• Description: Mouth and lower part of the neck of a silver flask with broad flat rim and band of slanting leaves, from Traprain Law
  
• References:
  • Curle, Alexander O. The treasure of Traprain. A Scottish hoard of Roman silver plate. Glasgow: Maclehose, Jackson and Co., 1923, p. 25. 
• Translations:
• Related Records: