Bird or similar animal find

[Jennylamb]

Please could I ask for advice on this find today. Bronze/brass or similar. it looks old, it's heavy, greening on the top between what I presume are the ears. Wondering if it was the detached head of a knife handle something like that. Looks like a bird as it has a beak and a little eye and looks as if the neck would fit into a wooden handle for instance. Found in woodland. Thank you. Jenny

[Allectus]

Post medieval knife end-stop.

[Jennylamb]

Post medieval knife end-stop.

Thank you, could you tell me anything else about it? Can't find anything online.

[Bradrick]

Thank you, could you tell me anything else about it? Can't find anything online.

I can't make out what bird/animal that is from the photo, but here is a selection of zoomorphic knife handles on the PAS: https://finds.org.uk/database/search/re ... ife+handle

You have it in hand, so maybe you can see something similar.

[Jennylamb]

Thank you, that's really useful. The animal looks like a bird with a long curving beak and eyes although it's got quite prominent 'ears' which stick up and which you can see more easily when looking from above. It was found in the same area as an Elizabeth I hammered silver sixpence (1589), so Post-Medieval would fit the time frame. Very interesting website, thank you.

[Phil2401]

Maybe meant to represent a bird-like mythical creature, e.g. a griffin?

Phil