BROOCH

Anglo-Saxon cast copper alloy button brooch with a gilt surface. Button brooches are circular in shape and resemble miniature saucer brooches, although the relationship between these two brooch classes is not clear. This brooch is an example of Avent and Evison Class Di. The brooch is 15 mm in diameter, all other measurements are unknown. The wide and slightly upturned rim is complete. The brooch is in good condition except for some corrosion in the recesses and on the edge of the rim. The upper face is decorated with a face-mask motif, which is comprised of 5 different elements. The undecorated helmet is rounded with a flat base. Below, the eyebrow, nose and eye-ring elements have been combined to form a mask around relatively large, oval shaped eyes. Where the end of the eyebrow joins the eye-rings they turn upwards. There are no cheeks on this face-mask; it is likely that they were combined with the eye-rings to form the lower half of the mask. The mouth is comprised of a single straight bar. The face is bordered with an undecorated raised, immediately before the rim begins to turn upwards. There is iron corrosion on the reverse of the brooch, which is the remains of the pin. It ran at an angle of 80 degrees to 260 degrees although it is unclear at which angle represents the pin lug and which is the catchplate as they are very worn. These angles correspond to the face of the brooch as opposed to the reverse so they are comparable with the measurements from Avent and Evison's research.