Anglo Saxon, Spong Man, Urn with Lid

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Details

The magnificent Spong figure decorates a 5th-century lid that would have once sealed a cremation urn. Sadly, at some point, the lid "became separated" from the urn that it originally adorned. Leaving us with no clue as to what the urn looked like in its entirety. Therefore, we have referenced urns from the same period to reimagine the urn, allowing the Spong figure to sit proudly upon an urn once again. 

This charming urn lid was excavated from Spong Hill, North Elmham, in 1979, alongside many other Anglo-Saxon objects. The site soon proved to be of great importance and is now said to be the largest known Anglo-Saxon cremation cemetery in Britain. Of all the finds, the Spong figure has to be one of the most remarkable. It is among a tiny number of three-dimensional representations of the human form from the entire Anglo-Saxon period, making it very special indeed. 

There is something very evocative about the Spong figure, with its faraway look and sense of contemplation. Their expression is so familiar to us. You can imagine them sitting thoughtfully in front of a great artwork or at their desk trying to figure out some complex problem. We have all had these moments of reflection, and it helps connect us to this small figure, making you want to know what it is that they are pondering.

Whether the figure represents the occupant of the urn or is some form of guardian, we will never know. But what we can be sure of is that the Spong Figure is a stunning example of Anglo-Saxon craftsmanship. 

Materials

Terracotta, reduction fired

Dimensions

Approx. 300mm tall, 190mm diameter

Production

As with all my Museum Quality Replicas, we have made this pot, as the original would have been, entirely by hand from natural clay and using replicas of the types of tool that the ancient makers would have used. As each pot varies, you may not receive the vessel in the image, but you can be sure that your pot will be one of a kind due to the variations caused by the firing process.

Postage

All items are sent using a second-class postal service; if you wish to have an item sent first-class, please contact me for a quote. Many Thanks