The front plate appears to be decorated with animal themes, featuring a peacock-like bird and some form of “S-shaped beast with two feathered wings”.
Peacocks are frequently featured in all manners of medieval art and are said to have symbolised eternal life in heaven.
The PAS said on its website: “The two designs are similar in that the tapering tail and wings appear reminiscent of one another, but the link between the tail and body is far clearer in the latter example.
“The second beast’s face is also far more reptilian, with an open maw and no frill, although an eye is clearly visible.”
Mr Sansome thinks he was incredibly lucky to chance upon the Early Medieval artefact.
source: express.co.uk