Late 6th or early 7th century gold sword pommel cap. High cocked hat form decorated with panels of beaded wire filigree in a zoomorphic pattern and quatrefoil knots.
This pommel, a cap that sits on the end of a sword's handle, is made of gold and covered in an intricate filigree decoration. Filigree is the technique of adding twisted metal wire or droplets of metal to create a twisted design. It was found to the north of Colchester in Ardleigh. There is little archaeological evidence from the Anglo-Saxon period in Colchester, though we know people lived in and around the town. The Ardleigh pommel is an exceptional item that would have once belonged to a wealthy and important Anglo-Saxon leader.
Production date
0575 - 0625
Production period
Anglo-Saxon, Medieval, early, 6th Century, 7th Century
