Gilt copper-alloy, 13.85 grams, 22.76 mm. 5th-6th century AD. A finely-made D-section mount with interesting iconography. The outer surface shows a chip-carved human figure with details of the hand and head visible. The side panels feature beast-heads with exposed teeth and elongated bodies, surmounted by human faces. The upper surface is plain apart from a a D-shaped panel with a human mask. The surfaces are heavily gilded. The reverse bears a D-shaped block at the upper end and a smaller block with a recess (like a catchplate) at the lower. The iconography recalls the Tiermensch or 'beast-man' of Style I Germanic art, probably depicting animal transformation while in a state of trance. The piece appears to have been intended to slide on a strap or belt, and may have formed part of the 6th-7th century AD sword-harness or belt-set. Reference: cf. the decoration of the Icklingham belt-buckle in West. S. A Corpus of Anglo-Saxon Finds From Suffolk, East Anglian Archaeology 84, Ipswich, 1998 p.169 fig.7. Provenance: found Herne Bay, Kent, England. This item is accompanied by an XRF ancient metal test certificate from Oxford X-ray Fluorescence Ltd.