Sir John Evans's Collections of Artefacts
Anglo-Saxon Garnet 'Bead'
Country of Origin: Britain
Description: Pendant made of gold, garnet and blue glass dating to the late-sixth or early seventh century. Unfortunately it has suffered considerable structural damage and is distorted in several places.
Dimensions: 3.5cm length
Object Period: Anglo-Saxon
Provenance: Forest Gate, Essex
Museum Accession No.: AN1909.517
Aquisition History: Found in 1875. Acquired by Sir John Evans and presented to the Ashmolean by Sir Arthur Evans in 1909.
Other Information: This gold and garnet object has been described as a 'bead' or the head of a pin, but it might be imagined more appropriately as having been threaded on a rigid rod and used as a pendant. Although this 'bead' is ambitious in design, its workmanship is less sophisticated than that found on other garnet-inlaid Anglo-Saxon ornaments.
Further References / Links:
G. Balwin Brown, The Arts in Early England, IV, (1915) pp. 538, 603, pl. cxlvii, 5.
P.D.C. Brown and F. Schweizer, 'X-Ray flourescent analysis of Anglo Saxon jewellery', Achaeometry 15 (1973), p. 180, pl. AM24.
R. Bruce-Mitford, Aspects of Anglo-Saxon Archaeology. Sutton Hoo and other Discoveries (London, 1974) p. 262, pl. 85c-d.
A. MacGregor and E. Bolick, Ashmolean Museum: Summary Catalogue of the Anglo-Saxon Collections (Non- Ferrous Metals) (Oxford, 1993) BAR British Series 230, no 24.16.
