Rights Holder: All rights reserved
CC License: 
Image use policy
Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).
BROOCH
Unique ID: PUBLIC-922077
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published 
Head and stub of bow from a cast copper-alloy early-medieval cruciform brooch, with the remains of an iron spring on the reverse. The brooch has a slightly raised head plate which flares from top to bottom, and is decorated with a line of punchmarks down either side edge. The punchmarks appear to be double-crescent or half-ring and dot. To either side is a flatter wing, now with worn rounded corners; there is a trace of a similar punchmark on the lower corner of the left-hand wing (as you look at the brooch, with bow at the bottom). A half-round knob springs from the centre of each wing, and from the upper edge of the headplate. Each knob is identical, cast in one with the headplate and decorated with a double collar at the base, then a broad transverse flute or groove, then a single groove above. The stub of bow is the same width as the central panel of the headplate; it has a slightly worn break.
The reverse is undecorated, and has a pin bar lug; to the left of this are the rusted remains of an iron pin. This fragment measures 41mm wide and is 28mm in length.
Early Anglo-Saxon, late 5th or early 6th century.
Class: Cruciform
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Early
Period from: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod to: Early
Period to: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Ascribed Culture:
Anglo-Saxon style
Date from: Circa AD 450
Date to: Circa AD 550
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 27 mm
Width: 41 mm
Weight: 10.5 g
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Sunday 16th February 2003
Personal details
This information is restricted for your access level.
Materials and construction
Spatial metadata
Region: Eastern (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Hertfordshire (County)
District: North Hertfordshire (District)
To be known as: St Ippolyts
Spatial coordinates
Grid reference source: From a paper map
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
Similar objects
Find number: YORYM-FE9A02
Object type: BROOCH
Broadperiod: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Headplate and bow from an early Anglo-Saxon cruciform brooch made from copper alloy. A top knob survives but the side knobs are both missing.…
Workflow: Published
Find number: SF6912
Object type: BROOCH
Broadperiod: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Head and bow of large florid cruciform brooch. The headplate is very nearly rectangular, measuring 30 mm wide at the top and 32 mm wide at th…
Workflow: Published
Find number: NMS-14CFAA
Object type: BROOCH
Broadperiod: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Incomplete early Anglo-Saxon cruciform brooch. It is missing part of the headplate, side knobs, and the terminal of the foot. The surface is …
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Timeline of associated dates
About Us
About our Site
Find us
The British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG.
T: +44(0) 20 73238618