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A fragment of a cast copper alloy gilded Early Medieval brooch, of Anglo-Saxon Small Square-headed Brooch type, c. 475-575 AD.

The remains of the brooch comprise of the upper portion of the catchplate, which is sub-rectangular in plan, with abbreviated lateral lobes and cusped projections above, ultimately tapering below towards the terminal, now missing. The decorative scheme on this fragment would have been continuous from the segments above and below. It consists of a raised cruciform pattern positioned centrally in the segment, which terminates in old breaks at the top and bottom of the fragment and widens into a series of concentric half-rings at the lateral ends, which are also truncated by old breaks; the centre of the raised cruciform design is an incised ring-and-dot. All four outer edges created by the central design have a further curved, raised line following the interior angles of the cruciform shape. The two upper cusped projections are semi-crescentic in plan and are filled with a Style I zoomorphic motif, which is difficult to interpret due to wear in this area. The lower two angles have a further raised line following the contours of the central cross and raised ridge mentioned above. Gilding is evident in all of these areas and it seems that the front surface of the brooch would have been fully covered with gilded decoration; no traces of niello inlay common to these brooches remains. The reverse surface is undecorated, but the sub-rectangular catchplate is intact, with a small inward-curving outer edge to hold the pin. The catchplate is positioned centrally in the upper half of the fragment. The brooch missing its rectangular head-plate and hinge, pin, arched bow and the rest of the catchplate, including the foot. All of the brooch body elements would have been further decorated and gilded. The colour of the copper alloy exposed by missing gilding and on the reverse is of an even dark green patina.

The fragment measures 20.8 mm long, 21.1 mm wide, 7.5 mm thick (at catchplate) and weighs 3.64 grams. A similar example may be seen in MacGregor and Bolick 1993, p123, No. 14.9. Cf. PAS database example: IOW-E3AF33, with similar decoration and suggested dating.

• MacGregor, A and Bolick, E, 1993. A summary catalogue of the Anglo-Saxon collections (non ferrous metals). Ashmolean Museum Oxford Oxford : British Archaeological Reports 230, ppNo. 14.9.

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Created: Tuesday 31st January 2012
Updated: Tuesday 7th February 2012