British Museum
Purse Lid from Sutton Hoo, Suffolk, England
Sutton Hoo in Suffolk, England is where great treasures from the early 7th century A.D. were found. One particular object, a purse lid, is an
example of the craftsmanship, iconography and wealth of the Anglo-Saxon people of this era.
Originally the purse lid was a cover for a leather pouch. The leather is now lost to time. The pouch once held several gold coins. Behind the existing gold frame and ornaments that contain blood red garnets and blue millefiori glass once laid an ivory backing. Like the leather the ivory has also decayed. It would have created white negative space between the elaborately designed ornaments. Its wearer would have hung the purse from his waistband by three hinged straps. The lid kept the leather pouch closed by means of a gold buckle found on the bottom center of the lid.
The kidney-shaped frame of the purse lid is designed with garnet cloisonné and checkered millefiori glass creating a geometric pattern. The outmost rim of the frame is created in gold roping. Within the frame two identical polygonal shapes with intricate geometric patterns are set in the upper corners. Between the polygonal shapes animal-like figures create a symmetric intertwining design of garnet. Their jaws and limbs extend into interwoven ribbons.
Animal figures are also found in the lower ornaments. Stylized human figures between two mirrored wolves are located in the lower corners. The human face is made of a halo of dots, two lemon-shaped eyes, and large parted lips with an inner mouth. His arms are curved around so the claw-like hands rest at his shoulders. The body is made entirely of garnet except for the lower torso, which is made of blue millefiori checkered glass. The human’s legs intertwine with the legs and tail of the two wolves. The wolves, made mostly of red garnet, are shown in profile with beak-like upper and lower jaws. Each one has large eyes.
At the center of the purse lid, mirrored images of large bird figures with hooked beaks hover over smaller bird figures. All four have wings and tails of a woven pattern of garnet and gold. Their outlines are interlaced with a band of gold and garnet rectangular shapes. The positioning of the bird figures resembles an attack or overpowering.
The human and animal figures are unlike any seen by the eyes of master craftsmen who created this piece. The abstract geometric animal design is the artist’s attempt to represent the particular qualities that were important to the Anglo-Saxon people. The patron may have wanted to display on his body imagery of power and strength. The master craftsman who created the purse lid is thought to have also been commissioned to create other pieces for this particular patron. Shoulder clasps were also found in the ship-burial site at Sutton Hoo. The clasps were created in the same materials and techniques found in the purse lid.
The patron was buried with the exquisite examples of wealth and status. Was the purse used in his lifetime or was it made especially for the burial? This answer is not easily attained. However the actual use of the purse, contemporary viewers can appreciate its beauty and intricate design.
The British Museum. Purse Lid from the ship-burial at Sutton Hoo.
(accessed September 14, 2008)
