found on St Ninian's Isle, Dunrossness, Shetland
Add to albumThis 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 sides and base of the bowl are decorated with punched dots in geometric and interlace patterns. A subtriangular mount is fixed to a circular plate which, in turn, is attached to the centre of the bowl's interior by three silver and two bronze rivets.
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: 000-190-001-158-C
- Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
- Project:
National Museums Scotland
Project description View all records in project
- Ref: National Museums Scotland X.FC 273
- Date: 8th century
Buried between 750 and 825
- Material: Silver; basal depression; lines of dots form pendant triangles on upper zone, interlace on middle and a key pattern on the lower zone; inside base an applied triangular escutcheon, gilded human faces at corners, cast openwork interlace in three panels in
Bowl
- Dimensions: 5.60" D x 1.40" deep
- What: Bowl
- Subject:
- Who:
- Where: Scotland, Shetland, St Ninian's Isle
- Event:
- Description: Bowl of silver decorated with lines of dots and gilded human faces, from St Ninian's Isle, Pictish, 8th century
- References:
- Calder, Jenni. The wealth of a nation. Edinburgh: National Museums of Scotland and Glasgow: Richard Drew Publishing, 1989, p 158.
- Small, A., Thomas, C., & Wilson, D. M. St. Ninian's Isle and its Treasure. London: Oxford University Press,1973
- Translations:
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