EARLY MEDIEVAL BROOCH

500

Small Kentish square-headed brooch of Leigh’s series III, made from gilded copper alloy. The headplate consists of a single rectangular panel with a raised undecorated border. The panel is divided into two by a short vertical band, and in each half is an identical relief motif which looks a little like a rectilinear scroll. The bow has a raised central longitudinal raised band flanked on either side by a groove and an outer raised band. These raised bands continue onto the foot, and the outer ones flare out to accommodate a tiny pointed-oval panel on either side filled with a pointed-oval ridge. Below and between, the central raised band bifurcates to form a lozenge-shaped panel which is filled with a stylised human face. This has a flaring nose, a pellet eye to either side, a curved ridge around the outside of each eye and, filling in the corners, a blob which probably represents a cheek. The raised border of the lozenge extends downwards and is probably broken, with a missing terminal. The finds recording form, and a drawing, indicate that there is a mass of corroded iron on the reverse of the headplate which probably represents the spring and pin of the brooch. Early Anglo-Saxon, sixth century AD.