<P> The purse - lid was the top of a leather pouch for coins . The leather has decayed but forty Frankish coins and two small ingots were found with the lid . Each coin was from a different mint, indicating a deliberately selected collection . The purse hung from the waist belt by the three hinges seen on top of it . The parts of the lid in other non-jewellery materials had decayed, but it probably had a plate behind the metalwork made of valuable whalebone "ivory"; the lid is now displayed with a plain replacement plate, although the original may well have had decorative carving . </P> <P> The lid formed part of an ensemble of richly decorated fittings to the clothing and weapon worn by the body that were probably made as a set . These consist of a gold belt buckle, and gold and garnet shoulder - clasps, sword harness and scabbard mounts . In particular the purse used a combination of small and large pieces of garnet in a way comparable to the shoulder - clasps . The burial "can be seen as a dramatic expression of the aspirations of East Anglian royalty", within which the ensemble of regalia "is a careful construct; it situates the owner in a dual inheritance of coin - distributing, sceptre - wielding late Roman consuls, and Germanic warrior culture, with its rich iconography of powerful animals, gods and victors ." </P> <P> The lid consists of a kidney - shaped cellwork frame enclosing a sheet of horn, on which were mounted pairs of exquisite garnet cellwork plaques depicting birds, wolves devouring men, geometric motifs and a double panel showing animals with interlaced extremities . The maker derived these images from the ornament of the Swedish - style helmets and shield - mounts also in the burial . In his work they are transferred into the cellwork medium with dazzling technical and artistic virtuosity . </P> <P> On the outside of the lid there are symmetrical images of a man surrounded by two wolves, a version of the ancient Master of Animals motif . In between these images are two more symmetrical figures, this time depicting an eagle swooping down upon its prey . To the ancient Anglo - Saxons, these images probably held great significance, but to modern historians it is difficult to be sure of the symbolism in these figures . It is possible that the heraldic composition of the men and the wolves alludes to the family name of the Sutton Hoo ship burial--the Wuffingas, or Wolf's People . They could also, along with the eagle, exhibit power, heroism, and courage . Above the animal and human figures the artists inlaid abstract designs . </P>

The purse cover from sutton-hoo is a good example of