found on St Ninian's Isle, Dunrossness, Shetland
Add to albumThis 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:
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
Bowl, hanging
- 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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