Date:
4th to 6th century

Object Details:
This object is a mount that would have supported and held in place the handle of a wooden bucket. It is in the form of a bulls head with a small bird sitting on it.

The best buckets have elaborate mounts, often in the form of bull’s heads. But having a bulls head with a bird on top is most unusual.

On this example, the mount is placed so that the bird's head appears over the edge of the bucket, which would have been comical. It was originally part of an Anglo-Saxon bucket, which were highly-decorated, high-status items. Birds often feature in Anglo-Saxon art, for example on the purse and shield from Sutton Hoo.

Many bucket decorations have been found and are usually associated with High status male graves. We don’t know exactly what they were for, but people believe they held food or drink as offerings for the gods or perhaps a contribution to the feasting that would take place in the afterlife.

Object Location:
Charnwood Museum
On display?  

Themes:
Home and Family Life  |  Working Life  | Religion

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