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Date: |
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Description: | An incomplete Medieval cast copper alloy figurative brooch of a crowned lion holding a head in its paws (1200-1500). The irregular-sectioned brooch has been cast in the form of a lion passant; the reverse of the brooch is flat. The lion has a large three-dimensional crown made of four projecting prongs and a concave centre; it is approximately 6.8mm long and 7.7mm in diameter. A recessed band beneath these prongs forms the bottom of the crown where it abuts the lion's head. The lion has a round projecting muzzle with an incised horizontal groove creating a grin. Above the muzzle and following its curves are four raised lines to create the lion's eyes and brow. Level with these on each side is a projecting lobe to make the lion's ears. The lion's body takes a passant form. The lion's shoulders and the upper half of its body are covered by its mane, which is suggested by an area of filed, cross-hatched decoration. In its front paws, the lion is holding a severed head and neck. The head appears to have long hair, with incised closed eyes and a small mouth. Geoff Egan suggests the head is a woman's. The lion's right leg is bent at the knee so that its paw rests upon the head; its left leg is almost straight and the paw abuts the base of the head. The lion's back legs are shaped in the passant style, with one straight and one extending behind. The lion has a long exaggerated tail which sweeps down in between the two back legs, in front of the back left paw and outwards. The reverse of the brooch is flat, but is concave in the area behind the lion's chest. On the left and right side of the concave area are two projections which indicate where a brooch pin and catch may have been. The inner projection (the left) may be the remains of the catch, it has a semi-circular hole between two points (the points appear to be broken edges). On the outer side (the right) one projecting slightly thicker knop indicates where the pin may have been; again the surface is broken. The surface of the brooch has acquired a consistent dark olive-green patina, with pale concretion adhering to the incised ridges. The brooch is only slightly worn. Dimensions: length: 32.12mm; width: 27.52mm; thickness: 4.53mm; weight: 9.99g.
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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