EARLY MEDIEVAL BROOCH

450

Anglo-Saxon cast copper alloy button brooch with a gilt surface. 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 Di or D miscellaneous. The brooch is not completely circular, measuring 17.8mm to 19.48mm in diameter. It is 1mm thick and weighs 3.65 grams. The brooch is extremely worn, with the gilt missing from all relief area revealing green corrosion. The edge of the brooch is upturned in areas, at approximately 90 degrees to the face of the brooch. The edge of the rim, and the edges where it is missing are very worn and corroded. The upper surface is decorated with a face-mask motif, which is comprised of 5 different elements. The undecorated helmet is rounded with a flat base and a slightly pointed apex. Below, the straight eyebrow, nose and wide cheek elements have been combined to form a mask around the eyes. The eyes are of different shape; the left is round and well placed, while the right is oval placed at an angle. There are no eye-rings on this face-mask; it is likely that they were combined with the cheeks to form the lower half of the mask. The mouth is comprised of a single straight bar, with an indent the face is bordered with three raised concentric rings. The pin is missing from the reverse of the brooch, however it probably made from iron, due to the presence of iron corrosion around the pin lugs. The pin ran down the face, from 0/360 degrees to 180 degrees although it is unclear at which angle represents the pin lug and which is the catchplate as they are very worn. These angles correspond to the face of the brooch as opposed to the reverse so they are comparable with the measurements from Avent and Evison's research.