Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 4.djvu/210

 192 AN ACCOUNT OF COINS AND TREASURE Fig. 98 is a fragment the object of which cannot now be ascertained ; when entire it has had a border formed of a corded pattern between two broad lines, and was decorated by a sort of fringe, composed of corded loops crossing each other, and supporting what appear to be f sheep's heads, the large head at the ex- fl' tremity being perhaps intended for that of a bull. Fig. 99 is a four-sided ornament, which has been originally fastened upon something else, possibly a leathern strap, for at the four corners are still remaining four rivets, and at one end are the remains of a thin fillet of silver, still fastened by another rivet. This object is singularly decorated with four lions, placed tail to tail, their heads forming rather large pro- jections at the corners. At each end, between the lions' heads, is a bull's head. This ornament has so strong a resemblance to the decorations which arc found upon the capitals of some columns of the very earliest period of Christian architecture in this country, that it would be ditficult to suppose that it was not the workmanship of the same people. Tt has been cast, carved with a graving tool, and gilt. Much the same observa- tion applies to fig. 100, which is a fibula, the tongue of which has been lost ; or, perhaps only a loop ; (see Annaler for Nordisk Ohlkindighed, 1844-5, tab. ii. fig. 4.) it is decorated with four birds feeding. It appears to have been cast, and rudely finished by a graving tool and the corner of a sharp punch; it has been gilt. From the description which has been given of the various objects discovered at Cuerdale, it appears that there are some remarkable dific'rences in the mode in which they have been constructed, l^y far the greater part have been formed by the hammer only, and ornamented by means of pimches of very sim[)le form, the pjitterns having been produced by repe-