EARLY MEDIEVAL BROOCH

450

An incomplete and corroded Early-Medieval (Anglo-Saxon) cast copper-alloy miniature bow brooch (c. 450-c. 600).The foot-plate and the pin are missing.The flat head-plate is semi-circular in plan. It is straight at the bottom and has a small semi-circular knop at the centre of the top. At the front, close to the edges of the head-plate, there are evenly spaced decorative stamped marks. These marks are indeterminate due to corrosion. However, the marks may be ring-and-dot motifs, crescents or similar. The bow has a break which is close to where it would have joined the foot-plate. This bow is strongly arched in side profile, deeply convex at the front and flat at the rear. It has parallel sides with a width of 5.90mm and its maximum thickness at the centre is 3.68mm. Centrally situated on the rear face of the head-plate there is a single pin lug. It is 'D'-shaped in side profile with a height of 8.76mm and a width of 2.23mm. Around the pin lug there is a conglomeration of corroded iron, the remains of a spring and axis bar.This brooch is corroded and in poor condition. It has a patchy green patina at the front and rear and the break on the bow is abraded.There is no indication of surface treatment, burning or melting.Height: 27.07mm; width of head-plate: 16.96mm; overall thickness: 9.93mm. Weight: 5.14g.