POST MEDIEVAL BROOCH

1500

Post medieval brooch; cast gold brooch of possible 16th century date. The brooch is a miniature ring of twisted gold wire sandwiched between two further rings of plain gold wire. There is further twisted wire forming a cross through the centre of the brooch, adorned with a gold pellet at the end of each arm and with a tiny ring of twisted wire in the centre. The back of the brooch has a fitting formed of a flat strip of gold which extends across the centre of the ring and is then curled up on itself at both ends to form loops. The finder confirms that there was originally a gold pin attached to one of the loops.Diameter 10.9mm, thickness (plate) 0.8mm, thickness (inc. fixing) 4.3mm, weight 1.09gThis artefact is unusual and its dating and interpretation is not certain. Geoff Egan (Museum of London) suggests that the gold ring is probably older than the fitting on the back and that it may therefore have been adapted into a brooch from an older object. The suggested dating is based on a 16th century hooked tag illustrated in Read (see reference below) which has a design with very similar stylistic features. A contemporary date is therefore offered, albeit tentatively!Ref: Read ‘Hooked-Clasps and Eyes’ (pp. 62, no. 193)