Decorative garment accessories such as pins, brooches and fibulae have been prevalent in the archaeological record of Europe and the Near East for millennia. Anglo-Saxon brooches, known as dalc or spennel, were mainly worn by women to fasten their dresses and cloaks. Much stylistic influence was from the proximate Celtic, Roman and Germanic cultures, and as such Anglo-Saxon brooches come in a rich variety of shapes, designs and materials. Disc-shaped brooches, such as this fine example, feature alongside cruciform, trumpet, faunal and bow shapes, and the bronze was often embellished with colourful enamels and intricate engravings. Brooches could also carry religious motifs and symbolic meanings, as well as being a visual marker of status and wealth.
Anglo-Saxon Gilt-Bronze Saucer Brooch with Floriated Cruciform Motif
£ 750.00
An exquisite Anglo-Saxon gilt-bronze brooch featuring an intricate symmetrical engraving. The brooch is of a shallow ‘saucer’ shape, with a circular body and short, raised sides. The flat obverse features four pairs of inward-facing spirals, each with a circular stud between, situated around a cross to form a floriated cruciform design. The engraving is neat and regular, and patination to the bronze has lent to highlight the decoration further. The reverse is unworked and features a catch plate along with the remnants of a connecting protrusion for a pin, now missing.
Condition: Very fine. Patination to parts of the surface.
In stock
| Weight | 8.92 g |
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| Dimensions | W 2.7 x H 0.8 cm |
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