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LOT 1196
Anglo-Saxon Disc Brooch Pair
5TH-7TH CENTURY A.D.
1 3/8 in. (28 grams total, 37 mm each).
A matching pair of bronze disc brooches, each comprising a discoid plate decorated with a chip-carved outer circle and quincunx of dot-in-ring motifs; pin lugs and catch plate to reverse. [2]
ProvenanceFound near Ixworth, Norfolk, UK, 1970s.
Ex UK collection.
Property of a Portsmouth, UK gentleman.
Accompanied by an old descriptive dealer label.
Cf. MacGregor, A. & Bolick, E., A Summary Catalogue of the Anglo-Saxon Collections (Non-Ferrous Metals), Oxford, 1993, item 4.41, for type.
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AUCTIONS:
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Saxon Garnet-Inlaid 'Face' Buckle Element
6th-7th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £432
A portion of a gold buckle or fitting with garnet cloisonné 'face' to the obverse, bands of granulation above and below; comprising a triangular panel with two garnet disc 'eyes' above a greenish (perhaps serpentine) filling to the upper cell, and a row of four garnets below; the effect represents either a face, or the other way up, two serpents settled with their addorsed heads resting on the baseline; two mounting loops to the reverse. 2.84 grams, 23 mm
Fine condition.
Acquired 1970-2010. Collection of a late Japanese gentleman.
The design replicates in cloisonné technique the dense artwork found for example on saucer brooches and sword pommels where serpents and quadrupeds are crowded into small spaces in the design. See for example Hammond (2009), item 1.1.6.6-h, a pair of saucer brooches with panels of animals and birds. -
Anglo-Saxon Chip-Carved Saucer Brooch with Face of Woden
5th-8th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £2,210
A superb chip-carved saucer or button brooch with extensive remains of gilding, displaying a stylised male face with puffy cheeks, large ears, long moustache, raised pellet eyes of different sizes, hair dressed in vertical ribs alternating plain and textured, some chevron and pellet patterning to the face; stub remains of catch fitting to reverse. 5.2 grams, 23 mm
Fine condition, slight scuffing to rim and one cheek.
Found UK. Acquired in the 1990s. From a North Yorkshire private collection, UK.
The brooch does not fall neatly into Avent & Evison's typology, being somewhat larger than the standard forms of button brooch and with an unusually detailed face. Broadly, it resembles Class J with alternating plain and textured vertical strands in the hair but does not have the horizontal band across the brow nor the stylised beard associated with the type. The eccentric placement of the eyes suggests that the image may be the face of the god Woden (Odin) who famously sacrificed one eye in exchange for wisdom. -
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Anglo-Saxon Gilt Chip-Carved Beast Mount
Circa 6th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £124
A rectangular gilt copper-alloy Style 1 mount displaying a chip-carved beast facing right; remains of a mounting lug to reverse. 1.18 grams, 32 mm
Fine condition, small loss to one end end.
Found UK. Acquired in the 1990s. From a North Yorkshire private collection, UK.
