File:Medieval enamelled limoge style mount (FindID 768651).jpg

The face of the mount is embellished with two small oval inlaid eyes, possibly blue in colour and made of glass or enamel. Traces of a thin, triangular, nose and small mouth are visible, with the face ending with a narrowed, rounded chin. Traces of gilding survive on the face and neck.

The front of the body is decorated with moulded and incised panels of different coloured enamel, representing a robe or tunic. On his right side of the body are two sets of three linear panels of green enamel. A further panel runs diagonally across his chest, just below a large circular rivet hole. To the left of this panel, dividing this from the other green panels, is a diagonal band containing gilding. This band appears to be grooved. On his left side are two elongated panels of blue enamel. A sub-triangular panel runs diagonally across his waist, presumably representing a belt. Further panels of blue enamel decorate the lower half of the body. To either side the panels depict vertical folds, while those in the centre show where the folds are bunching. A circular rivet hole is located in the centre at the bottom of the robes. Traces of gilding survive in the gaps between the enamelled panels.

This style of enamelled mount, probably for a casket or a cross, was typically produced in the Limoges area in central France during the late 12th and 13th centuries. The technique, known as 'champlevé' enamelling, involved grinding out a metal base to recieve glass powder that was then fired. A variety of different items were produced from the workshops at Limoges, both commerical and ecclesiastical including altar crosses, relic caskets, candlesticks and marriage coffers (Mills, 1999, 106).

A similar enameled figure was found in Salisbury (#2, fig 8) and paralleled by another in Winchester (Cherry, 2001, 42). Cherry notes that enamelled figures with two holes for attachment to a reliquary, box or cross are not uncommon finds and are likely to represent saints or apostles. Several similar examples have been recorded on the PAS database; for example, cf.: SUSS-1BDE96, LVPL-D02C10, SUSS-52D708, HAMP-774550 and IOW-B137B5.