Loading, please wait...
LOT 1776
Anglo-Saxon Bronze Brooch and Fragment Group
CIRCA 6TH CENTURY A.D.
1 - 2 1/4 in. (36 grams total, 27-56 mm).
Comprising: small-long bow brooch with pierced headplate, ansate brooch, horse-head foot from a cruciform brooch, mask with silver band from a cruciform brooch. [4, No Reserve]
ProvenanceAcquired on the European art market since the early 2000s.
From the private Northern Ireland collection of R.M.
TimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process
AUCTIONS:
TimeLine is a leading auction house specialising in antiquities, ancient art, collectables, natural history, coins, medals, and books. Our auctions offer museums, collectors, historians, and enthusiasts the opportunity to acquire unique and historically significant pieces.
-
Anglo-Saxon Gilt Great Square-Headed Brooch with Garnet
6th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £3,380
Comprising: trapezoidal headplate with beast-head spurs to the upper angles and concentric panels of Style I ornament with flanking billets; shallow bow with central cell and garnet cloison insert; short footplate with lateral lappets featuring profile masks and central lozenge; facing mask above a trapezoidal bar finial; pin-lugs and catch to the reverse; mounted on a custom-made stand. 74 grams, 11 cm (126 grams total, 13 cm high including stand)
with ArtAncient Ltd. Private collection, London. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12440-226863.
The meaning of the 'facing mask' motif on the footplate is probably related to the profile masks frequently used in Style I art, where the 'pellet' eye is enclosed by an arched frame: the 'facing mask' repeats this motif to produce a pair of eyes in a doubled 'bow'. An element of visual 'riddling' is no doubt present: the design is neither one thing nor the other, but includes elements of both. Distribution of great square-headed brooches was initially concentrated along the valleys of the Rivers Trent, Thames and Severn, though it was later confined to the East Midlands and East Anglia (Hines, 1997, figs. 101, 102). -
Saxon Bronze Buckle and Plate with Iron Pin
Circa 6th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £33
Comprising a rectangular plate with repoussé silver guilloche panel to the centre and two mounting studs to the reverse; short ferrous pin with mineralised textile to the both faces; flat loop with applied silver panel; Marzinzik's Type II.15a; old collector's legend to reverse 'Nr. Melton Mowbray, Leics'. 21.55 grams, 72 mm
Acquired on the UK art market in 2010. From a Leicestershire, UK, collection. -
Anglo-Saxon Bronze Cruciform Brooch Terminal with Face Mask
Circa 6th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £85
Formed as a T-shaped finial from a florid cruciform brooch, with facing mask and pellet eyes, lateral bird-head lappets, pelta-shaped panel below; attachment lug to reverse and old collector's inked number '84.144'. 7.8 grams, 33 mm
Found UK. From an important old Mayfair collection. From a Leicestershire, UK, collection.
