Wandsworth Shield
Wandsworth Shield | |
---|---|
Material | Bronze |
Size | Diameter: 33.0 cm |
Created | Iron Age, 2nd century BC |
Place | River Thames, London |
Present location | Room 50, British Museum, London |
Registration | 1858,1116.2 (Wandsworth Shield) 1858,1116.3 (Wandsworth Mask Shield) |
The Wandsworth Shield is a circular bronze
Discovery
The circular bronze shield mount, another incomplete bronze shield mount, a bronze sword, and celt were found in the River Thames at Wandsworth during dredging operations in 1849 or earlier,[2] and were presented to the Royal Archaeological Institute by William English in December 1849.[3] English was a millwright who operated steam dredging machines on the Thames from 1808 until about 1850.[4][5] The two shield mounts were donated to the British Museum by the Royal Archaeological Institute in 1858.[6]
Description
The circular shield mount (Proto-Celtic *skētos (compare Breton skoed “shield”; Latin scūtum) comprises a central
The incomplete bronze shield mount consists of a central boss, 11.85 cm in diameter, which transforms into a half-cylindrical spine at the top and bottom, one end broken and one end terminating in an anthropomorphic face. The surviving portion of the mount is 37.0 cm in length, and is similar to the boss and medial spine on the Witham Shield. The central boss is ornamented with repoussé work combined with a finely engraved spiral decoration, showing the heads of two ducks. The terminal face has three hairspring spirals engraved on the nose, and a row of triangles representing the teeth of the mouth.[8] The surviving bronze mount would have been mounted on an oblong wooden shield with at least seven rivets. The length of the rivets indicates that the wooden backing would have been no more than 8 mm thick.[10]
The circular shield mount is dated to the 2nd century BC, and the mask shield is dated to the later 3rd century BC.
See also
References
- ISBN 978-0-415-34779-2.
- ^ Megaw, J. V. S. (1970). Art of the European Iron Age: a study of the elusive image. Adams & Dart. p. 152.
- ^ "Antiquities and Works of Art Exhibited". The Archaeological Journal. 6: 411. 7 December 1849.
- ^ Reports from Committees, Metropolis Improvements; Metropolis Water, Thames Embankment, Trafalgar Square. Vol. XII. 1840. p. 48.
- ISBN 978-0-7277-2939-2.
- ISBN 978-0-7141-1362-3.
- ISBN 9780714113753.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7478-0613-4.
- ^ "shield". British Museum. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
- ^ "mount". British Museum. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
- ISBN 978-0-415-14627-2.