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Description: | The brooch is a disc brooch, which was probably originally jewelled. It is made from cast copper alloy. In plan it is circular. The upper surface is highly decorated. In the centre there is a circular cell which is now empty. The cell is bordered by a raised trapezoidal sectioned ridge. This cell is the centre of two crosses, which form an 8-armed ??star??.
The arms of one cross consist of a sub square cell at each terminal, all of which are empty. Next to this is a second small circular cell, of which two are filled with a white inlay. It is uncertain what the white material is, but is probably a type of stem. One abraded example shows it has a slate like characteristic, where it breaks into fine layers. A more persevered example shows fine striations on the surface. Below this cell, and connecting to the central large circular cell is a triple stranded block.
The second cross has two sub square cells at each arm terminal, all of which are empty. These arms connect to the central circular cell with a double strand with a reversed ??J?? on either side.
In the fields between the crosses arms are filled with triple-stranded interlace bodies. The fields and arms are enclosed within a border formed by sub-rectangular cells. These cells are encrusted and it is difficult to see what they were decorated with. Two cells have rectangular shaped cell within it, perhaps suggesting a smaller setting has since been lost.
The reverse of the brooch is undecorated. It has a pair of parallel lugs with iron corrosion around them towards one edge. Opposite is a taller single lug which is an inverted ??J?? shape, which is the catchplate. The pin and spring is missing.
The upper surface of the brooch has gilding, only the on areas of high-relief has it abraded. Under a microscope it is possible to see red copper corrosion where the gilding is not covering the surface. There is also active bronze disease on one portion of the brooch.
The brooch measures 52.94mm diameter and 3.64mm thick at the central cell ridge. It weighs 29.39g.
In MacGregor and Bolick (MacGregor, A. and Bolick, E. 1993 A Summary Catalogue of the Anglo Saxon Collections (Non Ferrous Metals) BAR Report British Series 230) a similar copper alloy disc brooch is illustrated, No. 6.23. These jewelled disc brooches are dated to the mid to late 6th century. | Subjects: | Disc | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Creator: | Bolton, Angie - Portable Antiquities Scheme | Identifier: | http://www.findsdatabase.org.uk/hms/pas_... | Language: | en-GB | Go to resource |
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