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Silver objects and part of the lower jawbone of a porpoise

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From St Ninian's Isle, Dunrossness, Shetland

Postcard of Silver objects and part of the lower jawbone of a porpoise.
000-190-000-977-C
© National Museums Scotland

Silver objects and part of the lower jawbone of a porpoise

These silver objects and part of the lower jawbone of a porpoise are part of a hoard found within a wooden box, buried in a ruined chapel on St Ninian's Isle, at Dunrossness, on Shetland between 750 and 825.

The illustrated objects show a spoon and pronged utensil, probably both eating utensils, a sword pommel, three mounts of unknown purpose, two highly decorated scabbard chapes (fittings to strengthen the base of scabbards), and the porpoise jawbone.

The St Ninian's Isle hoard contained eight silver bowls, 12 silver brooches, and the objects illustrated here. They probably belonged to a Pictish chief who buried his precious objects for safekeeping, perhaps at a time of danger such as a Viking raid.


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Online ID: 000-190-000-977-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 296
Date: 8th century
8th century
8th century
8th century
8th century
8th century
8th century
8th century
8th century
Between 750 and 825
Material: Bone, porpoise; stained green; teeth missing
Of cocked hat form; with cast decoration in chip carved technique of interlaced animals filling six panels
Silver
Silver gilt, much worn; horseshoe shape; two riveted pieces perforated near each end; zoomorphic terminals linked by a curved band inscribed on both sides; crest has a series of pairs of curved lines on one side, dolphins on the other side. Inscription: i
Silver gilt; conical; perforated above base; covered with fine decoration of engraved spirals and coils; disc detached from base
Silver gilt; conical; perforated just above base; four chip carved panels within arched frames; disc with a pair of semicircular slots detached from base
Silver gilt; conical; with a small tube above the base; covered all over with symmetrically arranged animal interlace in chip carving; base filled with a thin damaged disc with two small parallel rectangular slots
Silver; one-pronged, claw-like, widening into a rounded projection below curved tip; stem perforated for a suspension ring, part of which remains; engraved interlace design on both faces
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
Silver; zoomorphic terminals, the heads decorated with spirals, fluted snouts and protruding tongues, glass insets for eyes; curved band on one side with deep hatching forming multiple triangles, the other having two panels in chip-carving technique separ
Dimensions: 1.15" L
1.50" H; perforated 0.45" above base
1.60" H
1.75" H x 1.45" D; tube 0.40" above base
2.15" L
3.15" max W
3.20" max W
6.60" L
8.10" L
8.50" L
What: Implement
Jaw, porpoise's / portion
Mount
Mount
Mount
Nail
Pommel
Scabbard chape
Scabbard chape
Spoon
Subject:
Who:
Where: Scotland, Shetland, St Ninian's Isle
Scotland, Shetland, St Ninian's Isle
Scotland, Shetland, St Ninian's Isle
Scotland, Shetland, St Ninian's Isle
Scotland, Shetland, St Ninian's Isle
Scotland, Shetland, St Ninian's Isle
Scotland, Shetland, St Ninian's Isle
Scotland, Shetland, St Ninian's Isle
Scotland, Shetland, St Ninian's Isle
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
One-pronged implement of silver, decorated on both faces with an engraved design of interlace, from St Ninian's Isle, Pictish, 8th century
Pommel of cocked hat form with cast decoration in chip-carved technique of interlaced animals filling six panels, from St Ninian's Isle, Shetland
Loose silver nail found in a pommel, from St Ninian's Isle, Shetland, Pictish, 8th century
Conical silver-gilt mount decorated with symmetrically arranged animal interlace, from St Ninian's Isle, Pictish, 8th century
Conical mount of silver-gilt with four panels of interlace and animal decoration, from St Ninian's Isle, Pictish, 8th century
Conical mount of silver-gilt with fine all-over decoration of engraved spirals and coils, from St Ninian's Isle, Pictish, 8th century
Silver scabbard chape with Latin inscriptions, animals and fish, from St Ninian's Isle, Pictish, 8th century
Scabbard chape of silver with zoomorphic terminals with glass insets for eyes, from St Ninian's Isle, Pictish, 8th century
Right half of the lower jaw of a porpoise, stained green, found at St Ninian's Isle with a Pictish hoard, 8th century
References:
  • Small, A., Thomas, C., and Wilson, D.M. St. Ninian's Isle and its treasure. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1973, vol. 1, pp 58-66, 80. 
  • Youngs, Susan (ed). 'The Work of Angels'. Masterpieces of Celtic metalwork, 6th-9th centuries AD. London: British Museums Publications Ltd, 1989, p. 108-10. 
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