BROOCH

A Medieval copper alloy annular brooch dating 13th - 14th century. This ring brooch is hexagonal in plan with a circular central edge. This inner circular edge is decorated with diagonal stamped lines, creating a rough, twisted rope motif. There are raised pellets spaced equally along the edge which form a pair with pellets on the outer edge. These pellets divide the brooch into sections which fall in the middle of each of the straight edges of the hexagonal outer edge and they correspond with large rounded knops which project from the centre of the outer edge in the middle of each of the hexagonal faces. The brooch frame is decorated with drilled holes in between each of the pairs of pellets. These holes are slightly irregular; in three of the sections there are three holes and in two of the sections there are four holes. The pin articulates in a hole in the frame where the holes would have been drilled in the final section. The pin is undecorated and comprises a piece of copper alloy that is curved round on itself to form the point of attachment and then tapers down to the point. The outer edge of the brooch frame is similarly decorated to the inner edge with cut diagonal marks forming a twisted rope pattern. At each of the angles of the hexagonal frame there is a tri-lobed projection alternating with the circular knops, described earlier. There is a crack through part of the frame. The copper alloy has a dark green patina.

Dimensions: length: 55.52mm; width: 52.62mm; thickness: 4.50mm; weight: 28.15g.