06/09/2026
Seahorse or horse?
This item is part of the Staffordshire Hoard, found by a detectorist in 2009.
The picture shows the most familiar view of what looks like a seahorse, however, the research team believe it to be a horse with flaring nostrils and a long neck (a popular motif in Anglo-Saxon art).
Thought to be a sword grip mount, the two horse heads would have faced each other when in position. The craftsmanship is exquisite, made using two different techniques - firstly repoussé, where the reverse side is rubbed or stamped with the design creating a three dimensional effect on the front. The body has then been decorated with filigree, twisted gold wire soldered onto the base plate.
To give some perspective, the object is 40mm long, 19mm high, and 0.5mm thick. One grain of rice is long than three of the filigree spirals!
Pic credit: Birmingham Museums Trust
