BROOCH

An incomplete cast copper-alloy disc brooch of Early-Medieval date. The brooch is circular and has seven circular lobes with raised collets spaced evenly around the perimeter. All contain ?glass settings of different colours. Beginning at the top and moving clockwise, these are white, light blue, dark blue, yellow, uncertain, light blue, dark blue.

The body of the brooch also has a raised perimeter, and this encloses a geometric enamelled design separated by metal borders. In the centre is a heart-shape containing yellow enamel, and to either side is a pointed oval panel containing light blue enamel. A point oval panel also extends from the top of the heart, and this contains white enamel, complementing the white lug on the perimeter at this point. The panel to either side of the heart contains blue enamel. Two scroll-shaped borders extend below the heart; the area inside the scroll contains dark blue enamel, and that to the right also contains blue enamel. The other panels are empty. An integral lug and catchplate are located on the reverse. The surface of the brooch and the reverse have been gilded.

This is a disc brooch of probable Early-Medieval date. It finds parallels in the cloisonne enamel brooches examined by Buckton (1986: pp. 8-17) that are identified as having a distribution centred on the south-east of England and as being a particularly English product with influences from European (Byzantine/Germanic) gold work (Buckton, 1986: pp. 15-16). This suggests a similar late-10th to 11th century date for the current example.