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25.06.2021

Whetstone, from Sutton Hoo

The object you've described appears to be a stone scepter or sharpening stone with intricate metalwork. Here's a breakdown of its features:

1. **Stone Bar**: The main body of the object is a four-sided bar made of hard, fine-grained gray stone. The stone bar has a tapered shape at each end, forming a "neck."

2. **Onion-Shaped Knobs**: At each end of the stone bar, there are carved toothed onion-shaped knobs. These knobs were originally painted red, adding a decorative element to the object.

3. **Copper Alloy Cage**: Surrounding each onion-shaped knob is a cage made of ribbed strips of copper alloy. At one end (the bottom), the cage consists of six strips and is attached to a bowl-shaped piece of copper alloy. At the other end (the top), the cage comprises eight strips of copper alloy and is topped with an iron ring.

4. **Deer Decoration**: Attached to the iron ring at the top end of the object is a deer figurine made of copper alloy. This figurine likely serves as an additional decorative element.

5. **Human Masks**: Beneath each handle, there are four human masks carved in relief. These masks are distinct from each other, with some featuring beards and others being either beardless or having open chins. The masks have a roughly triangular shape that ends in curved oval tips.

6. **Smooth Surface**: All facets of the stone bar are extremely smooth and show minimal traces of wear, indicating that the object may have been well-preserved.

Overall, this object appears to be a finely crafted and decorative item, possibly with ceremonial or symbolic significance. The combination of stone, copper alloy, and intricate carvings suggests that it was created with considerable craftsmanship and attention to detail.

 

Whetstone, from Sutton Hoo

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