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Description: | TREASURE TROVE CASE 2006 T61 Anglo-Saxon gold and garnet composite brooch fitting Date: 7th Century
Description: The fitting comprises a garnet which has been set into a gold frame with a gold back plate. The garnet is thick and bevelled and is possibly a cabochon garnet. The upper surface of the garnet has been ground flat. The garnet is slightly damaged due to a chip on one edge, resulting in the loss of approximately ?. The garnet has been set into a simple, well fitting frame of sheet gold which has been edged with a single strand of twisted gold wire ropework, flanked by two concentric rings of undecorated wire. The concave reverse of the garnet has been coated with a layer of sheet gold, with a crudely cut hole in the centre. The front frame has been attached flush to the back plate. Three small (crudely cut/drilled) holes remain in situ on the reverse of the back plate - presumably for attachment. These holes are positioned at 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock and 9 o' clock respectively. But it is impossible to say which angle forms the 'top' of the fitting. At the 12 o'clock position a strip of the gold has been torn away from the back plate exposing the garnet below. The edge of the garnet is also slightly damaged at this point.
Discussion: The Bersted area fitting belongs to a large family of personal ornaments made in a similar style that came into fashion in the 7th Century (A C Evans, 2003). Due to the fact that no attachment loop survives, the possibility of this object being a pendant (similar to 2003 T143) can be ruled out. Most likely, it formed the central fitting on a composite brooch. It can be compared to composite brooch fittings in Avent (1975), 149, 152 and 172 to name but a few.
Dimensions and metal content: The precious metal content of the fitting fulfils the requirements of the Treasure Trove law in that it is greater than 10%. Weight: 3.37g. 18.64mm x 18.02. 6.31mm thick.
Parallels: AVENT, Richard. 1975. Anglo-Saxon Garnet Inlaid Disc and Composite Brooches. Part ii: Catalogue and Plates. British Archaeology Reports II,ii (Oxford).
EVANS, A C. 2003. Treasure Annual Report 2003, p74, Fig 96. 2003 T143. | Format: | text/html | License: | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ | Publisher: | The Portable Antiquities Scheme | Rights holder: | The Portable Antiquities Scheme | Subjects: | archaeology | Temporal: | 600
700 | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://www.finds.org.uk/database/artefac... | Language: | en-GB | Format: | text/html | Go to resource |
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