Pieces of a silver basin

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These three pieces of a silver basin were found at Traprain Law in East Lothian. The basin was part of a hoard containing over 150 silver objects, mainly tableware, buried between 410 and 425 AD. Most of the objects were fragmentary.

On the basin's rim are gilded letters in roundels, part of an obscure inscription. The base of the bowl has repoussé bosses which surrounded a now lost feature. The fluting on the bowls is parallelled on other finds of late Roman silver from Britain.

Large quantities of silver were available in the late Roman empire. A number of hoards from the late 4th and early 5th century provide a good indication of tablewares and jewellery current at the time, illustrating the high level of Roman craftsmanship.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-039-683-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.GVA 19 C
• Date: Deposited between 410 and 425 AD
  
• Material: Silver; letters damascened in gold on rim
  Silver; letters damascened in gold on rim
  Silver; letters damascened in gold on rim
  Basin / segment
  Basin / segment
  Basin / segment
  
• Dimensions: Weight 25.20 oz
  Weight 25.20 oz
  Weight 3.05 oz
  
• What: Basin / segment
  Basin / segment
  Basin / segment
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, East Lothian, Traprain Law
  Scotland, East Lothian, Traprain Law
  Scotland, East Lothian, Traprain Law
  
• Event:
• Description: Segment of a silver basin with letters damascened in gold on the rim, from Traprain Law
  Segment of a silver basin with letters damascened in gold on the rim, from Traprain Law
  Segment of a silver basin with letters damascened in gold on the rim, from Traprain Law
  
• References:
  • Curle, Alexander O. The treasure of Traprain. A Scottish hoard of Roman silver plate. Glasgow: Maclehose, Jackson and Co., 1923, pp. 31-3. 
  • Kent, J.P.C. & Painter, K.S. Wealth of the Roman world AD 300-700. London: Trustees of the British Museum, 1977, p. 124. 
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