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Description: | Cast copper alloy annular brooch length 22mm, width 18mm, thickness 4mm, weight 2.6g. There are four collets spaced evenly around the frame, these taper outwards along the frame giving a sub-triangular cross-section. Each is filled with a white paste that would have been or held a gem decoration. There is a constriction of the pin, which has a circular cross-sectio; the end has been bent around the constriction. A quarter of the way round the frame from the pin constriction is a second constriction from which a bird shaped pendant is suspended. The bird is displayed, so it faces front with the wings outstretched. The wings are represented by two crescents that are attached to the centre of the main body via a small projection. The bird has an expanded waist which narrows towards the tail, which is represented by a quadrangle. The head and neck are represented by a plain rectangle. Double lines of dots down the centre of the tail, body and wings represent feathers. On the underside of the head is a penannular loop (cf. beak) which attaches the pendant to the frame. The artefact is in excellent condition with a rich dark greenish/brown patina covering the whole surface. On the underside of the pendant and frame are a series of striations that are original tooling. The basic brooch is unremarkable; similar examples of the frame are found over much of the country, furthermore the quality of the craftsmanship is rather low when compared to other brooches of the period, perhaps suggesting local manufacture. What makes this object remarkable is the attachment of a decorative pendant. The attachment of such pendants to annular brooches in the Medieval Period is apparently unrecorded. If found separately the bird pendant would most likely have been associated with horse harness pendants rather than a brooch. This artefact represents a previously unknown elaboration in an otherwise simple brooch, possibly a local product. This artefact probably dates to the 14th century.
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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