found on St Ninian's Isle, Dunrossness, Shetland
Add to albumThis silver bowl is part of a hoard found on St Ninian's Isle a Dunrossness in Shetland in 1958. The hoard was buried for safe keeping on the site of an early Christian church sometime between 750 and 825. This picture shows the base of the bowl.
The base of the bowl is decorated with six lentoid panels interspaced with sub-triangular panels in a marigold pattern. Around the sides of the bowl the procession of interlocking animals can be seen.
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.
Record details
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- Online ID: 000-190-001-155-C
- Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
- Project:
National Museums Scotland
Project description View all records in project
- Ref: National Museums Scotland X.FC 270
- Date: 8th century
Buried between 750 and 825
- Material: Silver; with deep basal depression; decorated with 4 pairs of grotesque animals facing each other, bodies interlocked; background finely dotted; 3 branches ending in dots alternately inverted and linked by chevron line; marigold pattern on base
Bowl
- Dimensions: 5.75" approx D x 1.60" deep
- What: Bowl
- Subject:
- Who:
- Where: Scotland, Shetland, St Ninian's Isle
- Event:
- Description: Bowl of silver, decorated with four pairs of grotesque animals, interlocking, 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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