538: Mount of a fish between birds (gold)

[Made of items K652, K1249] Folded gold mount of two eagles grasping a fish. Animal motifs were very important in Anglo-Saxon art. Many hoard objects are decorated with designs containing stylised animals designs or are animal-shaped, and they were probably thought to convey protection or power to the owner. The Staffordshire Hoard is the largest collection of Anglo-Saxon gold and silver metalwork ever found. Discovered in a field near the village of Hammerwich, near Lichfield, in Staffordshire, England on 5 July 2009, it consists of around 4,000 items. The majority of the objects in the hoard are gold, and were made between AD 570-650. The hoard was buried in the mid 7th century (AD 650-675).