The cockerel is by far the most common creature found in Britain, and 44 examples have been recorded. The popularity of this bird is perhaps not surprising given his association with Mercury, the most common deity in Britain. The large number of figurines is reflected in the wide variety of styles in which the bird is depicted. Although always shown standing, with large tail feathers and usually a comb and wattle, the three examples from Cirencester exemplify the range of depictions from the extremely well-executed, naturalistic silver Cockerel 515, through less accomplished Cockerel 794, to stylised Cockerel 1134. The feathers on many of these figurines are quite naturalistically depicted using a variety of incision patterns, but sometimes the decoration is quite idiosyncratic. Cockerel 1032 from Colchester has short, rough slashes to indicate feathers on the body and deep grooves on the tail. Cockerel 899 from Tingewick, Buckinghamshire, is a highly stylised piece, the body of which is decorated with ring and dot stamps.
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