BROOCH

Early Medieval gilded copper alloy florid cruciform brooch fragment, 60mm long, 58mm wide and 4mm thick. The object is in fair condition with a green patina and weighs 42g.

The fragment consists of a rectangular headplate which is decorated with a raised border consisting of two solid faised lines divided by a groove within which is a slightly raised, perhaps beaded or zig-zag line. The upper corners of this border are marked by raised leaf-shaped (pointed-oval) shapes and the lower corners have similar sub-rectangular or lozenge shapes; all four raised shapes are decorated with curved punchmarks. Inside the border are various concentric rectangles; firstly one of transverse ribbing, then another double frame of raised lines, then in the centre three relief elements which are hard to decipher.

On three sides of the headplate are the knobs; sub-rectangular protrusions, now with worn edges, which are decorated with distinct human faces in relief. These have pellet eyes, heavy curved brows with upturned outer ends, straight noses with curved ends, small round cheeks and probably elaborate moustaches which originally ended in predatory birds' heads. The whole of the surface has traces of heavy gilding.

The reverse of the brooch has two semi-circular lugs, 12mm long and apart, set into its centre. The brooch is very similar to one from Empingham, Rutland (grave 81 listed as Mortimer type Z3- Leeds and Pocock type V(L)). Also compare LEIC-FC1E77.