EARLY MEDIEVAL BROOCH

590

Two fragments forming the greater part of a gilded silver garnet-inlaid Kentish disc brooch. The central circular setting is empty, with most of its backing missing. This is surrounded by a band of decoration comprising stylised animal ornament (six out of eight sections are extant), keystone garnet settings (only one out of four settings remains complete) and intermediate circular settings (three out of four remain, all empty). An inner rim consists of an inlaid band of niello with a central zig-zag pattern. The outer rim is undecorated apart from sections of beading. A catchplate for the pin survives on the reverse of the larger fragment. The fragments of this brooch should be reconstructed with the circular cells opposite each other, as on the drawing.