Anglo-Saxon Bronze Small-Long Brooch

Comprising a flat discoid head with low-relief geometric design in four sections, a central knob; one face gilded, similar type to the Witham pins. 14.7 grams, 43.3 mm



Acquired on the UK art market in the 1980s. From an East Anglian private collection.

Comprising a headplate formed as a rectangular median plate with lateral wings; raised central square panel with incised vegetal motive; to the middle of each edge a Style I human mask in plan, formed as a T-shaped brow-and-nasal with two pellet eyes; the bow deep with facetting at each end; the footplate triangular with transverse collar above a finial Style I human mask with complex beard below; pin-lugs and scar for catchplate to reverse; a marriage. 42 grams, 11.6 cm



Acquired on the UK art market since the 1960s. From the private collection of Mr J.P.H., a Woolwich, UK, collector, his collection formed since the 1960s.

Large discoid brooch with deep flange rim, tondo comprising a carinated outer panel with stamped pellet-in-triangle ornament, band of eleven running spirals inner carinated band and central voss; reverse with pin-lug and ferrous remains of the pin, hooked catch; incised concentric rings. 60.4 grams, 54 mm



Found whilst searching with a metal detector near Meysey Hampton, Gloucestershire, UK, on 19 July 2020.

It is rare to find a saucer brooch with eleven spirals in the tondo rather than the more usual five or seven, although the Brighthampton example in MacGregor and Bolick (p.42) provides a parallel. The present piece is in many respects similar to the Brighthampton examples, although it has an additional punched band inside the flange rim. The incised rings on the reverse would not normally have been seen in use, and may have been used by the maker to place the catch and lug symmetrically.