Image: Anglo-Saxon gilt copper alloy Great Square Headed brooch (FindID 853217)

Description: An Anglo-Saxon gilt copper-alloy Great Square Headed brooch, probably used around AD525-560. The headplate is rectangular and elaborately decorated with both punched and chip carved motifs. The headplate has an outer frame decorated with a row of punched pellet-in-ring motifs. A chip-carved geometric band comprising right angled lines runs inside this. This is bounded below by another frame decorated with with a row of punched pellet-in-ring motifs. This encloses a small rectangular panel decorated with chip-carved swirls. The bow is rectangular in plan and arched in section. A thick perimeter line decorates the bow to the either side, and another runs down the centre. The two remaining rectangular panels are each decorated with chip-carved strands and curves perhaps representing animals. The footplate is roughly leaf-shaped and highly decorated with chip-carved motifs. An outward facing bird-head runs down either side; each bird has a large, inward coiled beak. Punched pellet-in-ring motifs represent the eyes. Between the bird heads are two masks facing one another. Further animal motifs are seen in the lower left and right corners. The foot is circular and contains a mask. Two lugs are located on the reverse of the headplate, and between them is iron corrosion. A catchplate is located on the reverse of the footplate. The entire surface of the front has been gilded. The brooch is complete but broken into three pieces. Each piece was found in the ploughzone close to one another.
Title: Anglo-Saxon gilt copper alloy Great Square Headed brooch
Credit: https://finds.org.uk/database/ajax/download/id/620696 Catalog: https://finds.org.uk/database/images/image/id/620696/recordtype/artefacts archive copy Artefact: https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/853217
Author: Lincolnshire County Council, Adam Daubney, 2017-06-30 15:20:52
Permission: Attribution License version 2.0 (verified 15 November 2020)
Usage Terms: Creative Commons Attribution 2.0
License: CC BY 2.0
License Link: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0
Attribution Required?: Yes