Beasts, birds and gods - Chris Fern

The Staffordshire Hoard is an extraordinary collection of Anglo-Saxon artefacts, of gold, silver and precious garnets, probably stripped from the weaponry, armour and religious talismans of defeated armies in 7th century England. Matching its unprecedented wealth is the richness of its decoration, expressed above all in animal art. Beasts, Birds and Gods is an introduction to this art by experts working on the hoard, through a selection of key objects, exploring its zoo of creatures and their meaning. They represent the symbols of a pagan warrior aristocracy, at a time of great change with the coming of the new religion, Christianity.