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About this object

  • ID:

    78.107/1

  • Production date:

    Saxo-Norman; c. 1000; 10th century

  • Location:

    In Store

  • This small knife was found on the Thames foreshore between Putney Bridge and Wandsworth Bridge. It has decoration made of twisted silver and copper wires hammered into the blade, and a silver plate inset on each side with lettering. One side reads 'OSMHND' ('Osmund' - probably the name of the owner), the other side is illegible. The name Osmund suggests that the owner was of Anglo-Saxon descent. The pattern made by the inlaid wires is like that found on 'pattern-welded' blades, where the use of different qualities of iron twisted together produces similar herringbone patterns.

  • Measurements

    L 136 mm; H 24 mm (overall)

  • Materials

    iron; silver; copper alloy

  • Last Updated

    2024-03-27

FURTHER INFORMATION
  • NUMBER OF ITEMS

    1

  • STATUS

    permanent collection

  • COPYRIGHT HOLDER

    digital image copyright Museum of London

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