MEDIEVAL MOUNT

Circular slightly domed mount. The face is decorated with a number of recessed cells filled by enamel that are divided by a series of raised linear borders. The design consist of a central double banded diamond pattern with concave sides. At the tip of each corner is an ovoid shaped projection that has a pellet on the inside base, each ovoid is surrounded by a roundel. Either side of each of the roundels is a pellet with an outwards projecting arrow above. All of the cells are filled with a light blue enamel that has occasional darker blue patches. This is all held within a thick raised border that has a plain inner edge and a rusticated/ zigzagged outer edge with blue enamel in-between the teeth.The reverse of the mount is concave with a recessed strip running across that back, this is where a mount would have been attached.Overall the art style suggests a possible Moorish origin, but after consulting several Islamic experts the nature and date of this artefact is still uncertain although the style suggests a 12th century date.It is alternatively possible that this object is a mount from an early-medieval hanging bowl. Although the design cannot be closely paralleled, quadripartit