BROOCH

An incomplete Early-Medieval (Anglo-Saxon) copper-alloy and gilded button brooch (c. 450 - c. 550).

The pin, spring and catch-plate are missing.

This brooch is circular in plan and has an up upturned rim forming vertical sides. At the front, within the rim, a flat border is decorated with evenly spaced annulets.

The upper surface of the brooch is decorated with a central stylised ?helmeted human bust right. It has a rounded helmet, round eye, curving eye-ring and a rounded cheek. The helmet has evenly spaced annulets and the raised elements of the face have punched 'dots'.

The rear face is flat except for the pierced pin-lug and the stub of a catch-plate. The lug is orientated at about 2 o'clock and the catch-plate at about 8 o' clock with the front.

The pin-lug has an iron axis bar and a tiny portion of surviving iron spring.

The front has a green patina with flecks of gilding and the sides are gilded. The rear face is largely covered with an off-white deposit and iron staining.

There is no evidence for burning or melting.

Diameter: 14.5mm; thickness: 2.6mm; thickness including pin-lug: 7.0mm. Weight: 2.13g.

This brooch has been classified as a Suzuki Class L (Suzuki 2008: 203, Plate 206).

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.

Similar brooches have been recorded from the Isle of Wight. See Portable Antiquities Scheme finds: IOW-5AEB62; IOW-AABE51 and IOW-CD6047.

Suzuki, S. 2008. Anglo-Saxon Button Brooches. Typology, Genealogy, Chronolgy. Woodbridge: The Boydell Press.