MEDIEVAL BROOCH

1000

Incomplete medieval gilt copper alloy oval framed brooch, most of the central bar missing. Set at right angles to the bar are two projections in the form of stylised animal head on long necks, one now rather distorted. Slight traces of decoration on the sloping outer face of the squashed frame are probably rocker-arm engraving. There is a close resemblace to a mount from London (F. Pritchard in Vince (ed.) Aspects of Saxo-Norman London: II (1991) 151-2, fig.3.34 no.107), though this present example is larger was oval rather than circular. Other examples of such mounts have been recorded in Norfolk, Barton Bendish (HER 19086), Beeston with Bittering (HER 4084), Coltishall (HER 28860), Ingham (HER 50272), Outwell (HER 41077), Stow Bardolph (HER 51164), Wiveton (HER 25862) and Wymondham (HER 37333). Another piece, from Beachamwell (HER 2635) is certainly a brooch. On it there is a pin set in a constriction next to one of the terminals. Another example from Ringstead (NMS-293287), is a buckle, and retains its pin and buckle-plate. On all of the mounts, the Beachamwell brooch and the Ringstead buckle there is a pair of recesses on the underside of the frame. If these held separate bars all may have been brooches or buckles. Distorted dimensions: length including projections 61mm. Width 16mm. 11th - 12th century.