Saxon sword pommel?

[leehorton7]

well to start with a quick hello my names lee i live in pontefract west yorkshire and im obsessed with detecting enuff of me had a day out on friday and picked up this very nice sword or dagger pommel , dont know what year yet but will be finding out on the twelveth of this month by the portable antiques society anyways let me know your views on this

[Lost and not recoverable]

[Tascio]

Hello Lee, welcome aboard!

A stunning and rare find! Any chance of photographs of the sword pommel from above and below?

[leehorton7]

added two more many thanks

[Tascio]

Thanks for those extra pictures! I'm really hoping this will turn out to be saxon/viking, but a 1100-1300 date seems more likely, I'm still checking through some books and other resources, haven't found anything quite like it yet! Nice photos, btw.

[Tascio]

It has just occured to me that this could be the lead core of a pommel that might have once have been plated with gold or silver. Is there sign of any metal plating or decoration?

[leehorton7]

theres the line around the outside and a few faint swirls on one of the sides only about 1mm each theres also a hint of green plating left and some black parts that also could be a thin plating, im thinking more saxon than viking now as its not a decrotive as some peices ive seen

[Tascio]

Awesome, yep, Anglo-Saxon, 7th-8th century. When I looked at it orginally I thought the black was dirt rather than silver oxide, but then I remembered that some of the very finest known saxon pommels have lead cores. I'll go with a 7th century date for it.

* Thread title updated *

[leehorton7]

thats excellent another question is what would it be worth, not that im wanting to sell it as i dont beleive in selling your finds id rather give them to a museum but just for peice of mind

[Tascio]

No clue on value, I am afraid.