Saxon & Medieval — Saxo-Norman; c. 1000; 10th century
Knife
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.
- Category:
- Saxon & Medieval
- Object ID:
- 78.107/1
- Object name:
- knife
- Object type:
- Artist/Maker:
- —
- Related people:
- Related events:
- Related places:
- Production date:
- Saxo-Norman; c. 1000; 10th century
- Material:
iron, silver, copper alloy
- Measurements/duration:
- L 136 mm, H 24 mm (overall)
- Part of:
- —
- On display:
- —
- Record quality:
- 100%
- Part of this object:
- —
- Owner Status & Credit:
Permanent collection
- Copyright holder:
digital image © London Museum
- Image credit:
- —
- Creative commons usage:
- —
- License this image:
To license this image for commercial use, please contact the London Museum Picture Library.