BROOCH

A gilt-silver annular brooch frame with zoomorphic decoration dating to the 13^th century.

Description: The frame is broadly ovoid with a D-shaped cross-sectioned with a flat back and convex front. The pin (now missing) would have been attached around an indented bar and at the opposite side a pointed outer edge where the pin would have rest. The front of the brooch is decorated with two double-headed beasts (which look very canid) separated by the loop and pin rest. The heads have squared snouts with pellet eyes set in slight depressions on either side. The ears are pointed and upright behind the head. The bodies are finely decorated with pellet decoration possibly meant to depict fur. A diagonal line divides each body forming wide chevrons (points at the mid-point of the beasts at the outer edge of the frame).

The chevrons are in counter-relief and may be infilled with calcite paste or similar off white inlaid material. The brooch is mostly a silver colour with some slight faded pale gold patches particularly visible around the eyes/snouts of the beasts and the reverse of the brooch.

Measurements:13.72mm long, 15.7mm wide, 1.02mm thick and 0.48g in weight.

Discussion:From '2014T856' "This style of this [annular] brooch is securely dated to the medieval period - specifically the 13th Century - with excavated examples being recorded from London (Egan and Pritchard 2002: 247-255). Very similar silver examples to this brooch with zoomorphic [decoration variously described as] dragons [or wolves] albeit also with gem settings [dividing the best's bodies] have been reported and declared treasure specifically from Tolpuddle, Dorset 2011 T724 (DOR-142926), Mildenhall 2004 T176 (SF-527EB7) and Mid Suffolk 2002 T49 (SF8229)", also from Arlingham, Gloucestershire 2014 T856 (HESH-497CD5). A particularly close example without gems was recovered Tarrant Rushton, Dorset, 2011T724 (DOR-5CC922).