Record

Silver hanging bowl

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found on St Ninian's Isle, Dunrossness, Shetland

Postcard of Silver hanging bowl.
000-190-001-160-C
© National Museums Scotland

Silver hanging bowl

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

The outside of the bowl has three oblong ribs in the form of spread-eagle boars. These form hooks at the rim to carry rings for suspension.

Hanging bowls were first made in Roman Britain, and were popular in Ireland, Scotland and the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms into the eighth century. They are usually of bronze, rather than silver, with elaborate mounts on the outside rim and bottom.


Record details

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Online ID: 000-190-001-160-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 275
Date: 8th century
Buried between 750 and 825
Material: Silver, deeply countersunk base, patterned silver disc underneath; circular cast gilt escutcheon of processional animals inside; three oblong boar-shaped gilt escutcheons outside, heads overlapping rim, holding three loose rings; no inset on centre boss
Dimensions: 5.50" D x 1.75" deep
What: Bowl, hanging
Subject:
Who:
Where: Scotland, Shetland, St Ninian's Isle
Event:
Description: Hanging bowl of silver with three oblong gilt escutcheons in the form of spreadeagled boars, 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 
Translations:
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