File:Gold mount of Anglo-Saxon date (2006 T320)obverse view (FindID 189184).jpg

English: Description: An early Anglo-Saxon circular gold setting, now incomplete, distorted and damaged. The outer edge is surrounded by a triple frame: A plain gold strip, now largely squashed, is set inside a very fine beaded wire ring and the outer edge of the object is then framed by twisted beaded wires. The centre of the setting is now empty. The back-plate, now slightly warped, is round and plain. In its centre there is a roughly rectangular slot with torn edges. It will have had to do with the means of attachment of the setting. In addition, there are four small rivet holes around the edge of the back plate, which would have helped to secure the object.

Dimensions: diameter 19 mm, thickness 5 mm, weight 1.94 g.

Analysis: Non-destructive X-ray fluorescence analysis of the surface of the mount indicated a gold content of 72-75%, silver content of 21-24%, the rest being copper.

Discussion: The setting from Rushton belongs to a group of studs or mounts which is now increasingly common. It would probably have had a dome-shaped centre of garnet cloisonné, possibly with some additional white inlays. The arrangement of a fine beaded wire and then twisted beaded wires is very similar to the more complete stud from Farthingstone, also Northants (2006 T84; NARC-05D4C1), which, however, has a circular attachment scar on the reverse. Better-preserved examples have recently also been found at at Bidford-on-Avon, Warwickshire in 2001 (Treasure Annual Review 2001, no. 38), and near Mildenhall, Suffolk (2005 T510). The use of these studs is unclear, but there is no doubt that they adorned a larger object. Due to its shape, it could have been the central boss from an Anglo-Saxon plated disc or composite brooch. The triple frame would support this view and the stud would have been similar to those on brooches such as from Sarre or Kingston (Avent 1975,ii, plates 67, 68).

Other possible comparanda include two unpublished objects, both from Kent, in the British Museum, a swivel mount (1144.'70), possibly from a sword harness, and a stud, possibly from a sword sheath (1905,0418.16). Lastly, a composite pendant from Canterbury (Webster and Backhouse 1991, 26 and fig 10) has a central setting that matches the likely original appearance of the setting from Rushton.