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LOT 0330
Anglo-Saxon Gilt Bronze Great Square-Headed Brooch
6TH CENTURY A.D.
5 3/8 in. (136 grams, 13.5 cm).
Of Hines's Group XX with square headplate bearing concentric bands of billets, undulating lines and punched points, with vesica motifs to the upper corners; thick shallow bow with central rib, isosceles triangle footplate with horse-head lappets and flanking lobes with concentric rings, ropework bands and central vesica, disc finial with ropework border; pin-lugs to the reverse and broad catch.
ProvenanceFound near Grimsby, Humberside, UK, circa 2010.
LiteratureCf. Hines, J., A New Corpus of Anglo-Saxon Great Square-Headed Brooches, London, 1997, pl.78(a).
FootnotesThe brooch shows a restrained use of low-relief detailing confined to largely geometric features other than the horse-heads at the shoulders and the single facing mask on the headplate above the junction with the bow. The bow itself is very thick and displays a prominent median rib with just a suggestion of outer ribs. The mineral deposits on the reverse bear the imprint of the textile to which the brooch was attached.
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Anglo-Saxon Bronze Reused Roman Coin Collection
Circa 6th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £39
Group comprising: bronze coins from the Roman Empire period (2nd-4th century A.D.); each pierced once or twice for suspension as jewellery pendants in the Anglo-Saxon period. 34.8 grams total, 15-26 mm
Found Berkshire, UK. -
Saxon Bronze Brooch Group
7th-9th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £26
Comprising an equal-arm brooch with punched ring-and-dot motifs to both terminals; remains of a cruciform brooch with three knops and incised linear ornament; a zoomorphic brooch or mount in the form of a bird, some remains of gilding. 19 grams total, 29-36 mm
Acquired on the UK market, 1990s. Property of a retired academic. -
Late Anglo-Saxon Prick Spur with Urnes Style Mythical Beast
Circa 1030-1100 A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £72
The T-shaped body with remains of the iron core, each of the arms with a series of three transverse ridges, the shaft with moulded Urnes style zoomorphic decoration comprising scrolling tendrils running down either side, each running up to a coiled projection on either side of the head, possibly depicting ears or horns. 28.9 grams, 55 mm
Found whilst searching with a metal detector near Mundford, Breckland, Norfolk, UK, by R.Humphrys. Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme report no.NMS-524F67.
Artefacts such as these are dated to the 11th century and are thought to be Viking in origin, but were widely used by the Anglo-Scandinavians and remained a legacy for the Anglo-Saxon cavalry. Spurs of this type were used probably by the Saxons at the battle of Hastings in 1066.
