Anglo Saxon ‘Janus’ Pendant

Description

6th – 7th century AD. This unusual decorative padlock from Bishop’s Court, Dorchester – on – Thames, Oxfordshire, depicts the two – faced Roman God Janus looking both forward to the new year and backwards to the old. The padlock form is duplicated to produce this obverse/reverse pendant with a bronze finish. Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, England. Height 28mm