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Silver bowl

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found on St Ninian's Isle, Dunrossness, Shetland

Silver bowl
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This is one of eight silver bowls 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 much-corroded for about two-thirds of its diameter. The body has three zones of punched dot ornamentation: an interlace pattern at the top, a main zone of broad ribbons, and a zigzag line at the bottom.

The metalwork found in the St Ninian's Isle treasure shows the skill and accomplishment of Pictish craftsmen. The use of dotted backgrounds and some of the animal decoration on other objects are distinctive Pictish artistic traits.

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