Armoured knight

This figurine of a knight originates from the so-called ‘hack silver find’at a mill in Lisów, Poland. A total of 10 kilograms (22 pounds) of silverhad been buried in a ceramic container in the west Slavic settlementarea around AD 1015. Until local minted coins were introduced, ‘hacksilver’ served as a currency. Jewellery, silver vessels and coins, some of which had artistic merit, were cut up so that they could be weighed outto the value of the trade item for which they were being exchanged. This hollow sheet metal figure of a mounted warrior in armour witha helmet, shield and lance was originally part of a valuable earring pendent. The knight’s eyes and the bridge of his nose, his round shield, hishorse’s tack and mane are picked out in decorative filigree wires. (MB)