Copper-alloy, gilt; 3.47 grams, 39.29 mm. 6th-7th century AD. The mount is in the form of a bird of prey. The depiction is unusual in that the bird's body is formed as a single lentoid eye with the characteristic Germanic brow-ridge forming the neck and tail, while the lower surround sweeps round to become the extended wing. The beak develops from the junction of the brow-ridge and lower surround. The grasping claw is placed beneath the eye. The Anglo-Saxon god, Woden, after whom Wednesday is named, was considered to be one-eyed and to be able to adopt the form of a bird - characteristics shared with the later Norse Óðinn. The mount shares its animal form with several others known from Anglo-Saxon England - Bergh Apton, Spong Hill and Sutton Hoo - and probably evokes the amuletic qualities of the beasts portrayed. The two mounting lugs are present on the reverse. Reference: Stephenson, I.P. The Anglo-Saxon Shield, Stroud, 2002, p.104ff and cf. Nermann, B. Die Vendelzeit Gotlands im Auftrage der Kungl. Vitterhets Historie och Antikvitets Akadamien, Stockholm, 1969, plate 108 fig.916-7. Published: Hammond, Brett. British Artefacts, volume I - Early Anglo-Saxon. Extremely fine condition. Provenance: found Norfolk 2009.