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Description: | Early Anglo-Saxon cast copper-alloy button brooch, of Avent and Evison's Class Ai. It has a maximum diameter of 17.69mm, and a minimum diameter of 17.49mm and the plate of the brooch is 2.99 mm thick. The upper face of the brooch is decorated with a central face-mask motif, which comprises 7 different elements. There is a pointed helmet with slightly upturned ends. Immediately below the helmet are curved eyebrows with upturned ends which joins to the nose element. The narrow nose flares out at the base and is slightly offcentre. The eyes are small and rounded with curved, well placed eye-rings just below. The cheeks are full and slightly angular. There is an open mouth made from a lozenge shape with a recess in the centre. There is no evidence that the upper mouth element extended over the lower element to represent a moustache, a common feature on some button brooch classes. There is further decoration surrounding the face-mask, comprising a flat decorative border with a raised ring immidiately next to the face mask motif. The rim of the brooch is upturned, shallow and is at a right angle to the flat brooch face. The rim is worn and slightly damaged on the upper left side. The surface of the brooch is in good condition with all details of the face mask visible, but only a very small amount of the gilding that originally covered the upper surface survives. The reverse of the brooch has the remains of the integral pin lugs. There is square hinge lug with slight traces of iron staining which is probably from the now missing iron pin. The thickness of the brooch including the hinge lug is 9.9mm. The catchplate is worn and incomplete, however is still stands quite prominent from the surface. The thickness of the brooch at the catchplate is 6.9mm. The pin was positioned down the length of the face, with the hinge at 0 degrees, and the catch at 180 degrees. Button brooches are circular in shape and resemble miniature saucer brooches, although the relationship between these two brooch classes is not clear. They date from c. 450 to c. 550 AD.
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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