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Description: | Incomplete gilded copper alloy Early Early-Medieval saucer brooch, missing its central setting, its pin, and part of the saucer-rim (the latter appears to be recent damage and is probably a result of the plough).It is 34.3mm in diameter and the rim stands 4.8mm high. The underside of the brooch is 31.4mm in diameter. The central circular setting is 7.8mm in diameter (internal 4.5mm) and stands c.3mm high.The decoration is chip-carved and Style I. It shows three profile Style I animals processing in a clockwise (probably) direction. Surrounding this is a ridge following the inside edge, decorated with tiny transverse punches.Helen Geake comments "The three pairs of radiating ridges might be simple divisions of the field or might be what Tania Dickinson calls 'body blocks'. In front of each one of these as you go clockwise is what appears to be a rather indeterminate head; it hasn't got anything as useful as a mouth or a beak, just a longish eye with a single ridge below and a double curved ridge above. In front of the eye there appears to be a flaring ridge which might represent a nose.Then there is the leg, with an ankle or elbow and a ?four-toed foot". Below the leg (towards the inside of the brooch) is a single ridge curving upwards, which is probably another bit of body.The gilding has survived well except at the extremities of the brooch's surface. The central setting retains traces of a white substance, probably a cement-like mix for fixing a piece of glass or stone.On the reverse only a small bit of the curl of the catchplate survives and some iron staining around the lug suggests an iron pin originally. Recent damage to one edge on the reverse shows the brassy/ coppery colour of the metal beneath the surface.Weighs 14.78g. With the lug at the top, the catchplate turns to the right and is behind a 'body block'.Helen Geake comments the animals on this brooch are derived from those in more complete form on the Mitcham Brooches, Ref Tania Dickinson in hikuin, figs 4e and 4f.6th century in date.Tania Dickinson has commented that this brooch is a close parallel to one from Kempston in Bedfordshire.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/r... | Go to resource |
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