EARLY MEDIEVAL BROOCH

450

Anglo-Saxon cast copper alloy button brooch with a gilt surface; the extent of gilding surviving on the surface of the brooch is unknown. Button brooches are circular in shape and resemble miniature saucer brooches, although the relationship between these two brooch classes is not clear This brooch is an example of Avent and Evison Class C, which is decorated with a very stylised face-mask design that is symmetrical and comprised of 7 elements. There is a small, round helmet with flat base. A line of circular punch-marks runs along its base. Below the helmet are two curved lines that extend down the face of the brooch forming the eyebrow element, and they encompass the eyes, eye-rings and cheeks. The nose is formed out of the space between these two curves. The eyes are comprised of an angled semi-circle situated in the apex of the ‘eyebrow’ curves. There are two narrow bars parallel to the base of each eye, which most likely represent the eye-rings and cheek elements. The mouth is formed of a curved line above a crescent with a flat base. A ring of beading surrounds the facemask. The brooch is slightly worn on the raised areas of decoration, and the edge of the brooch is worn where most of the upturned rim has been broken off. It is 18mm in diameter; the other measurements are unknown for this brooch. The condition of reverse of the brooch, including the pin, pin lug and catchplate are unknown, as this information was not recorded with the original PAS record.