EARLY MEDIEVAL MOUNT

Early-medieval continental enamelled gold mount from Suffolk (2004 T141)On a gold base is soldered a round box which holds in its field the enamelled decoration. The seam is covered by a filigree wire. The design is achieved by means of large cloisons (cells) made up of continuous ribbons of thin gold sheet, which hold the enamel. The visible upper surface of the cloison walls, economically, draws the design itself. This shows a male frontal bust (head and neck), with large almonds eyes and nose formed by one continuous strip curled on itself, a small mouth and ?moustache above. The hair is wavy. At the side of the bust two motifs, probably intended to represent vegetation, are made with a strip curled at the top. The enamel is not well preserved, and large areas of the base to which it was applied are visible, but on the neck, part of the face and in the 'buds' the original whitish colour is still to be seen. The hair appears bluish, and the field greenish-black. The right eye is totally empty. At the back of the object there are strips, suggesting the object was soldered as a mount.A number of enamelled brooches and mounts survive, both from the continent and England. The most f