Casgliadau Arlein

Cast circular harness pendant with an integral oval loop. The front face is inscribed and decorated in relief; the back face is plain. On the front face, the inscription running along the outer edge reads: +AVE MARIA GRACIA (Hail Mary [full of] grace) and is set between an outer line of beading and a single solid lined circle. Encircling the central roundel is a zone of eleven stemmed flowers which form a scroll pattern. The central motif is slightly sunken and bears the figure of a dog, in relief, its front paw raised in a 'passant' stance and its long tail curving over its back. The surrounding field of the central design was once filled with a blue/green enamel, some of which still survives. Substantial gilding has survived on the front face, particularly on the background, with a small section surviving on the plain back face.