found on St Ninian's Isle, Dunrossness, Shetland

Silver bowl

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

The bowl is decorated externally with incised lines outlined with dots. There is a border of punched dots below the rim, which is plain and slightly thickened.

The St Ninian's Isle hoard contained precious metalwork which probably belonged to a Pictish chief. The valuable objects were buried for safekeeping, perhaps at a time of danger such as a Viking raid.

Record details

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Online ID:	000-190-001-152-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 268
Date:	8th century Buried between 750 and 825
Material:	Silver; hemispherical; decorated by chased lines outlined with dots; five intersecting circles forming an equal arm cross on the base; a line along the upper edge of the design forming pendant circles inside each of the four circles round the sides
Dimensions:	5.90" D x 2.25" deep
What:	Bowl
Subject:
Who:
Where:	Scotland, Shetland, St Ninian's Isle
Event:
Description:	Hemispherical bowl of silver, decorated with chased lines outlined with dots, from St Ninian's Isle, Pictish, 8th century
References:	Small, A., Thomas, C., & Wilson, D. M. St. Ninian's Isle and its Treasure. London: Oxford University Press,1973
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