Found in a roman /celtic area

[woody50]

This object was found in an area where much roman and Celtic artifacts and coins have been found. It mystifies me too think how this thing was mounted onto something, look at the bottom.
But it is a nice find.

I am not 100% sure that the large ball is a eye, but could be. It appears that there was only one eye, the other side is smooth and can see no place where something was mounted.
I would imagine something like this would be cast (wax method?).

Any answers?

The measurments are:

Weight : 10.31 gram
Height : 21 mm
The bottom or mount face is 22 x 13.8 mm
Material : appears to be bronze

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[Taranis]

I think its a zoomorphic lug.

[woody50]

Taranis: Sure don't know what that is, I looked in google but there were only some pots. Can you help?

[vhs07]

How cool! Looks like a horse head to me. The round thing could be it's ear. Can it stand on its own? Maybe it a gaming piece.

[Taranis]

Sorry for my bad english, but I think its an ancient roman or celtic pot/bowl's lug.
http://www.keltria.org/images/pottery/bowl.gif
http://www.bible-history.com/ibh/ima...-in-Pompei.gif
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...s/IMG_2643.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hCNMKfVrgX...nze-vessel.jpg

Decoratian on pot, bowl, dish etc.

[woody50]

Hey Taranis! No problem what so ever! Your English is good; don't talk about your bad English!
Now I understand; did not know what was meant by a lug!

The last link, with the bronze-vessel, comes closest to the object I think. If this object was a lug then it was a removable one, to see by the bottom of the object. I cannot see any place where it was joined to a bronze vessel, and it would have to be a bronze vessel or something like that (something valuable I think). Since there is no sign of it being attached to an object, it would be a removable lug, which would be inserted into a place in the bronze vessel or whatever, taken to some place, and the lug removed.

But even that; if the 'lug' is inserted into another vessel, and used as a handle, it would have to show wear on the top site of the bottom, where it would be inserted. And there is none, actually it looks like there is no wear on the object at all, and that is funny. Makes me think it was not meant to be used, but just looked at. (not attached either to see by the bottom).

The bottom of the object is to me more interesting than the top figure. I try to think of how it was attached to something, or how it would be attached to something. And I don't really have an explanation for the bottom except to repeat what I though above ( something that is to look at and sits on top of something else).

What it looks like to me is that it sat up the crossing point from two round rods, and was not attached, just sat there. But why?

Thanks Taranis for helping and getting me to think about something else!

[CRUSADER]

I agree, it looks like a pot mount. (more Celtic influence, so either Celtic or Romano-celtic)

[woody50]

I agree, it looks like a pot mount. (more Celtic influence, so either Celtic or Romano-celtic)

I can agree about the Celtic influence, came out of such an area. But if its a pot mount how would it be mounted? (see the bottom).
Is then a pot mount a handle or something?

Thanks for your comments Cru.

[CRUSADER]

I can agree about the Celtic influence, came out of such an area. But if its a pot mount how would it be mounted? (see the bottom).
Is then a pot mount a handle or something?

Thanks for your comments Cru.

Its actually as Taranis said. A mount on either side of a pot, its like a handle but more decorative/ceremonial. They fixed them in the same way we soulder, an early form of blazing two pices together. The Celtic metal workers were far better than the Romans, they learnt & took on their ways.

[BuckleBoy]

That is a fantastic find. Good to see you on the forum again.


Best Wishes,


Buckles

[woody50]

That is a fantastic find. Good to see you on the forum again.
Best Wishes,
Buckles

Thanks Buckles, yes it is a nice object. Come here everyonce in a while but been very busy lately because of hunting and many other things, just not much time to look around. Now that the weather here is better I'm outside more also, which makes it hard to do much computing (the wife likes to see me everyonce in a while!).

[woody50]

Its actually as Taranis said. A mount on either side of a pot, its like a handle but more decorative/ceremonial. They fixed them in the same way we soulder, an early form of blazing two pices together. The Celtic metal workers were far better than the Romans, they learnt & took on their ways.

OK, great. So I guess this would be one that was discarded it appears never to have been soldered.
I am just not sure this is a mount though, why then take all the time to carve out the bottom in such a way?
And the fact that its so small and I cannot find anything even close to it, even as a mount.
But I have been wrong and surprized before.....

Thanks Cru

[CRUSADER]

OK, great. So I guess this would be one that was discarded it appears never to have been soldered.
I am just not sure this is a mount though, why then take all the time to carve out the bottom in such a way?
And the fact that its so small and I cannot find anything even close to it, even as a mount.
But I have been wrong and surprized before.....

Thanks Cru

I have 3 hooked shaped Roman horses heads the same size as yours, 1 made of iron, 2 of bronze. But mine do show signs of fixing.

[woody50]

I have 3 hooked shaped Roman horses heads the same size as yours, 1 made of iron, 2 of bronze. But mine do show signs of fixing.

Well I expected that Cru. Can you remember how the bottoms (or sides) where they were mounted looked?
Say, why are you not out searching

[CRUSADER]

Well I expected that Cru. Can you remember how the bottoms (or sides) where they were mounted looked?
Say, why are you not out searching

Just been out but we hide from the heat, will try later.

The ones I have do have obivious fixing points other than another one I forgot which is a swans head, it has a flat surface which must have been blazed to the pot.

[CRUSADER]

If you think about it the grooves would give it grip if attaching to a raised crossed surface underneath.

[woody50]

If you think about it the grooves would give it grip if attaching to a raised crossed surface underneath.

Yea that is so, to me it looks like it sat up two crosses 'somethings'....aaaajjjhhh.. its just a funny thing, can't find anything like it.

Understand about the heat, it was 32 yesterday in the shade in the back yard, more in the sun. And I guess bad on the skin, but the evenings are nice and long....
I have not been searching much the past time.

Greetings Earl

[woody50]

Heard from Chris Rudd (you know who he is of course). He said about this object:
This definitely looks like the stylised head of a Celtic horse, or maybe even a sea-horse as you suggest.

Earl