BROOCH

A cast copper-alloy cruciform brooch of the Anglo-Saxon period, dating to the mid 6th century.

The brooch is nearly complete, missing only the pin, though the tip and base are corroded in situ in the catchplate and hinge fitting, respectively. Some textile may also be preserved by the iron corrosion of the pin between the pin and the underside of the head plate. The brooch can be separated into three primary elements which will be described in turn: the headplate, the bow, and the foot. For purposes of description, the brooch is oriented with the headplate at the top.

The headplate is roughly rectangular, with integrally cast side and top knobs. In section the knobs are D-shaped, but with hollow cavities on the underside. In plan, the knobs are attached to the headplate by a collar, which bears two inscribed lines so that the collar appears to be three bands. The collar gives way to an undecorated, concave neck. After the neck is the main element of the knob, a sub-rectangular or D-shaped globule. The head plate bears a central panel and wings, with the corners of the wings flaring outward. The central panel has a stamped horseshoe decorative motif along its sides, and this motif also follows the edges of the wings.

The bow has a rounded medial ridge and is faceted at the corners. In section, it is carinated in front and concave behind.

The footplate has a flat panel immediately below the bow, decorated along its sides with the same horseshoe motif seen on the headplate, though wear and corrosion of the metal has left the decoration unclear. The flat panel has a semi-circular lappet on either side. The lappet is decorated with scroll work, or possible Style 1 decoration. The base of the flat panel gives way to a half-round panel with a double-collar at either side, which then gives was to a horse-head terminal. The eyes or ears emerge vertically out of the terminal relatively high up. The snout has two vertical lines runing down its centre that emerge as the spatulate extension. The nostrils of the brooch are decorated with a scrool pattern, and are separated from the spatulate extension. The spatulate extension is decorated with the same horseshoe decoration round its outside edge.