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Description: | Copper alloy plate brooch. Cast circular plate brooch with seven equidistantly spaced knops projecting from its frame and the seat for a hinged pin (now lost) and a folded catch plate brazed to the flat back. The display face bears a cloisonné cruciform motif rendered in polychrome enamels of particularly rich and vibrant tints. The cross is rendered in dark cobalt blue enamel and has zig-zag edges to each arm. There is a pale blue enamel field in two opposed fields between its arms, these alternating with darker turquoise fields. Four triangular wedges appear in the outer parts of the fields, in each case depending on the outer edge of the frame: a pair of red triangles are set opposite each other, with a pair of opposed white triangles in the remaining fields. A central yellow square is set in the middle of the cross. A tiny glass bead stands proud of its collet on each of the surrounding knops, these are all of varied blue tints, probably two of the paler blue tint and the remainder of the darker turquoise; none so dark as the cross itself. The frame bears traces of gilding on front and back. There are some small chips on the darkest blue enamel, revealing it to be thick and glassy, and the red triangles are also lightly crazed. The exquisite preservation of what must be the original colour range and the good condition of the object suggest its consideration as a find of note.This object class closely resembles later Roman plate brooches, and the type may have originated through imitation of their form. The cruciform decoration of such polychrome brooches is common, and in a Danelaw context is thought to indicate the adherence of Viking converts to Christianity. The quality of this piece should also argue the high status of its owner. Suggested date: Early Medieval, 900-1000.Diameter: 25.5mm, Thickness (clear of pin gear): 4.3mm, Weight: 5.95gms.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/ | Go to resource |
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