BROOCH

A cast copper-alloy Anglo-Saxon small-long brooch, dating c. 475-600.

The brooch is mostly complete, missing its foot terminal and pin. The head of the brooch is cruciform, with a central panel defined on three sides by a line of stamped crescent-over-dot motif. The side wings do not appear to bear any more decoration, except for a small notch cut in the lower edge of each wing, to further distinguish from the bow. The top arm of the cruciform head bears more damage to its edges, though not much material has been lost; the base of the top arm also has a notch in its lower corners, to further distinguish it from the central plate. Despite the notches and stamped decoration, it should be noted that the entire head has a flush surface that is very slightly convex in section. In the centre of the underside/reverse of the head a single cast-integral lug remains, with iron corrosion around its base and extending toward to top of the head, across the underside of the top arm.

The bow is carinated, with projecting corners sitting on a short rectangular plate above the head and foot. Both bow bases have moulded linear decoration across the width, and at the base of the bow at the foot end, a distinct panel that runs from the bow base to the upper foot can be distinguished, with each end bearing moulded linear banding. Below this on the foot is a panel that is undecorated, but has chamfered faces to either side of a flat central face. Below this are two series of four moulded ribs/collars, D-shaped in section. After this, the foot is incomplete, with an abraded break. The underside of the foot retains a hooked catchplate running the full length of remaining foot.