Rights Holder: Winchester Museums Service
CC License:
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Unique ID: HAMP-ADEF51
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
An incomplete cast copper alloy button brooch of Early-Medieval (Anglo-Saxon) date (c. 500-50), missing its pin and possibly part of the pin lug. In plan, the brooch is circular and has an upturned rim giving the plate the depth of 2.08mm. The rim, damaged and missing in one place, flares outwards at an angle of about 135°.
The upper surface of the brooch is decorated with a central chip-carved anthropomorphic forward facing mask. The 'helmet' (or possibly hair) consists of two triangles, their outer edges following the curve of the inside of the rim, either side of a central narrow rectangle. Below the eyebrows and nose are formed of a single T-shaped element, the eyebrows with a slight curve to them. One eye is a quarter of a circle in shape, in the angle of the nose and eyebrow, with a curving line and curving area below representing the cheeks. This is truncated below by the double horizontal line representing the mouth. To the other side of the nose, the second eye is a line, with a straight line and straight area behind it (in contrast the those curving on the other side of the nose).
The rear face of the brooch is flat and c.18mm in diameter. The pin lug is positioned at 3 o'clock to the front of the face. The rectangular catch-plate is positioned at 9 o'clock.
The brooch measures 20.96mm in diameter at the top of the rim and 16.05mm across the flat chip-carved face. Including the catchplate, the brooch has a thickness of 8.64. It weighs 3.81g.
Button brooches are distinguished by their small size and by the anthropomorphic face-masks which they feature. They may have been used in different ways as dress fasteners. It is thought that they may have been used singly rather than in pairs like the similar but larger saucer brooches. Button brooches are found throughout much of southern England and date between the later fifth and mid-sixth centuries. Seiichi Suzuki comments "I would subsume the brooch under class E1 (a rather degenerate variant), while the classification as class G (an early variant) cannot be ruled out. As may be recalled, these two classes are adjacent in genealogical terms, with class E1 preceding class G. The dating, which is just a rough estimation, would be at the early 6th century" (pers.comm. July 2013)
Reference: Suzuki, S, 2008; Anglo Saxon Button Brooches Typology, Genealogy, Chronology.
This has been noted as an interesting find by the recorder.
Class:
button
Sub class: Suzuki Type E1
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Early
Period from: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Subperiod to: Early
Period to: EARLY MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 500
Date to: Circa AD 550
Quantity: 1
Thickness: 8.64 mm
Weight: 3.81 g
Diameter: 20.96 mm
Date(s) of discovery: Sunday 21st April 2013
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Other reference: Winchester Museums Entry Form 3613
Primary material: Copper alloy
Completeness: Incomplete
Surface Treatment: Gilded
4 Figure: SP4928
Four figure Latitude: 51.948345
Four figure longitude: -1.288486
1:25K map: SP4928
1:10K map: SP42NE
Grid reference source: Generated from computer mapping software
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.
No references cited so far.