Title
Handle for a seax, or single-edged knife from the Staffordshire Hoard. Anglo-Saxon. 7th or 8th centuries
Caption
Handle for a seax, or single-edged knife from the Staffordshire Hoard. This spectacular handle has some of the finest cloisonné decoration. ‘Seax’ describes any kind of single-edged knife. Everyone carried some sort of knife. The name ‘Saxons’ probably means ‘people of the knife'. The Staffordshire Hoard is a collection of Anglo-Saxon. Discovered in a field near the village of Hammerwich, near Lichfield, in Staffordshire, England, in 2009. it consists of over 3, 500 items, dated to the 7th or 8th centuries, placing the origin of the items in the time of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia.
Date
7th century
Credit line
Photo12/Ann Ronan Picture Library
Reference
ARP17A10_311
License type
Rights managed
Available size
60,0Mb (3,8Mb) / 15,7in x 14,8in / 4712 x 4451 (300dpi)