MEDIEVAL BROOCH

1200

A complete medieval copper alloy annular brooch. The brooch is annular in plan, with six collared bosses spaced approximately equidistantly around the front. The bosses contain domed glass pellets. The brooch has a pin, oval in section, which is secured by a loop around a narrow constriction on the frame. In profile, the internal and external circumferences of the brooch are angled and straight, expanding from the flat reverse to the concave front. The angled external circumference is extended where the protruding bosses increase the depth of the brooch. There are linear incised finishing marks (file marks) evident on the angled inner and outer circumferences of the brooch. Margeson (1993, p.15, figure 58, and plate V) describes a similar, but smaller brooch (object 58) as “like a coronet” in “Norwich Households, Medieval and Post-Medieval Finds from Norwich Survey Excavations, 1971-78”. The pellets have a thin brown/yellow surface layer, likely to be a mineralised decay product of the glass (pers. comm. Jane-Thompson Webb, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery). This coating is opaque, but where it has been chipped away, the pellets are translucent green or cream/yellow (in an altrnating pattern). The copper alloy frame and pin have a well developed green patina. Other than some chipping to the glass and loss of some material from the walls of the bosses, the brooch is in very good condition. It has an external diameter of 24.0mm (including bosses), an internal diameter of 15.6mm and is 4mm thick (excludin the pin, but inclusing the bosses). These are maximum dimensions. The pin is 23.0mm long. It weighs 3.56g.Margeson (ibid. p.15) states: “Throughout the medieval period, copper alloy versions of gold and silver brooches were available for the less affluent, usually annular in form, with cast decoration, sometimes finished off with engraved details. Miniature versions are also known.” She adds: ”Simple annular brooches were used for fastening garments at the neck of both male and female dress from the 12th century onwards. They may have been used for many other functions, even fastening belts and purses.” (ibid.). In terms of how the brooch was secured, in “Dress Accessories 1150-1450” Egan (2002, p. 247) states that “…the pin could be passed through the textile on both sides of a collar, or through a single fold in the garment, to be held in place against the opposite side of the frame by the drape of the fabric.”Margeson (ibid.) comments that one type of medieval annular brooch, “…is set with precious gems, such as the gold brooch from Victoria Street, Manchester (Age of Chivalry, cat. No. 651). Copper alloy versions were set with glass pellets in imitation of these.” Margeson (ibid.) identifies object 58 as one such brooch. As previously stated, the object described in this record appears to be very similar to object 58, although larger. Object 58 was excavated from a context dated to 1275 to 1400. Margeson draws a parallel between object 58 and one from a 13th century context in Exeter (see Goodall, 1984, fig 90, no 51). On this basis, the brooch recorded here is likely to be 13th or 14th century.