EARLY MEDIEVAL BROOCH

450

Early Medieval Brooch. Anglo-Saxon cast copper alloy button brooch. This brooch is an example of Avent and Evison Class B (See notes for discussion). Button brooches are circular in shape and resemble miniature saucer brooches, although the relationship between these two brooch classes is not clear. The brooch is has a diameter of 15.79mm, however corroded iron increases the width 18.41mm. The plate of the brooch is 4.41mm thick. The brooch is a dark black green colour on the upper surface, and a lighter green on the reverse. The upper face of the brooch is decorated with a central face-mask motif, which is comprised of 6 different elements. There is a curved helmet with a flat base. Immediately below the helmet and parallel to the base is a straight eyebrow element that forms a ‘T’ shape with the nose. The narrow nose flares out at the base. The eyes are small and angular, the left eye being lower than the right. There are no eyerings, and the angular cheeks are of different widths, the right being the widest of the two. The mouth is comprised of a single element, with a curved base and flat top. There is no moustache. There is further decoration surrounding the face-mask, which is comprised of a singular, raised ring. The rim of the brooch is upturned at approximately a 75 degree angle from the flat face of the brooch, making it a deep saucer shape. The rim is extremely worn along one edge. The surface of the brooch is in good condition with all details of the face mask visible, however none of gilt that would have originally covered the upper surface survives. The reverse of the brooch has a complete, integrally cast catchplate attached. The remainder of the reverse is covered in a large amount of iron corrosion, which is all that survives of the pin, and the integrally cast copper alloy hinge lug probably survives under the corrosion layer. The thickness of the brooch is 9.46mm at the catchplate, and 12.73mm thick including the corroded iron. The pin was positioned down the length of the face, with the hinge at 0 degrees, and the catch at 180 degrees.