EARLY MEDIEVAL BROOCH

400

An Early Medieval (Anglo Saxon) copper alloy fragment of a brooch - a variant of an equal-armed or miniature bow brooch (5th-6th century AD). The fragment comprises part of the headplate and the bow. The headplate is semi-circular in plan but all the edges are broken so this may not be indicative of the original shape. Traces of inlaid niello decoration are visible on the headplate. On the reverse of the headplate is the remains of a single lug, located in the centre. The curved bow is very thin and flat in cross-section. The copper alloy is partially rough, pale and mid-green. Dimensions: length: 24.92mm; width: 22.43mm; thickness: 11.61mm; weight: 3.66g.