sceptre;
whetstone
- Museum number
- 1939,1010.160
- Description
-
Stone sceptre or whetstone comprising a four-sided stone bar of hard, fine-grained grey stone. Each end of the bar tapers to form a 'neck', and ultimately terminates in a carved, lobed knob, roughly onion-shaped and originally painted red. Each knob is enclosed by a cage of copper alloy ridged strips. At one end (interpreted as the bottom), the cage consists of six strips and is attached to a cup-shaped piece of copper alloy. The cage at the other end (interpreted as the top) consists of eight copper alloy strips surmounted by an iron ring (see 1939,1010.205.b), upon which is mounted a copper alloy stag (see 1939,1010.205.a). Immediately below each knob are four human masks carved in relief, one on each of the stone bar's four faces. Each mask is different; three are clearly bearded and five are either beardless or bearded with an exposed chin. The masks are approximately triangular in shape, ending in curved oval terminals. All faces of the stone are extremely smooth and show very little trace of wear.
- Production date
- early 7thC
- Dimensions
-
Length: 58.30 centimetres (Stone bar only)
-
Length: 82 centimetres (incl metal fittings)
-
Weight: 2.40 kilograms (Stone bar only)
-
Weight: 3048.20 grammes (incl metal fittings (excl. 2 separate strips))
-
Width: 5.10 centimetres (max)
- Curator's comments
- Publications:
Quast, D., 2010. Ein spätantikes Zepter aus dem Childerichgrab. Archäologisches Korrespondenzblatt 40, pp. 285-96, esp. p. 285 (offprint in the object file)
Lamm, J. P., 1987. On the Cult of Multiple-headed Gods in England and in the Baltic Area. Przeglad Archeologiczny 34, pp. 219–31
Enright, M., 1983. The Sutton Hoo Whetstone Sceptre: A Study in Iconography and Cultural Milieu. Anglo-Saxon England 11, pp. 119–134
Simpson, J., 1979. The King's Whetstone. Antiquity 53, pp. 96–101
- Location
- On display (G41/dc1/sG)
- Exhibition history
-
Exhibited:
2004 1 Apr-30 Oct, Woodbridge, Suffolk, Sutton Hoo Visitor Centre, 'Between Myth and Reality'
- Acquisition date
- 1939
- Department
- Britain, Europe and Prehistory
- Registration number
- 1939,1010.160