© British Museum
Ship's Figurehead
Artist: attributed to Roman
Location: British Museum
Date: 4th-6th Century
Materials: oak
Dimensions: 149 cm
Grant:
Amount Paid: £350 (Total: £750)
Vendor: Dr Burg
Review number: 1096 (1938)
Provenance:
Found in the river Scheldt at Appels, Belgium, in 1934.
Description:
Through carbon-14 analysis, the ship's figurehead has been dated to 350-650 A.D. - much older than initially believed. Originally placed during the Viking period, this adornment would have been made a time the Germanic peoples roamed Europe or a time when the Germanic peoples roamed throughout Europe or consolidated their kingdoms around the North Sea basin. The menacing appearance of the carving, with its gaping mouth and large eyes and teeth, served to protect those journeying by sea from the water's evil forces.
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