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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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AUCTIONS:
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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. -
Anglo-Saxon and Viking Bronze Strap End Group
Circa 8th-10th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £286
Comprising examples recorded with the Portable Antiquities Scheme: one of Thomas Class A Type 1, an Anglo-Scandinavian type with a zoomorphic scheme displaying a crouching beast; a second Thomas Class A type with elliptical plan, depicting the snout and eyes of a beast at one end, the creature's ears laid back against its body; a further Thomas Class A Type 1 example with two rivet holes, displaying an entwined beast with head in relief and remains of niello; four without PAS records comprising: one triangular in plan with entwined beast design and remains of niello; one tongue-shaped with design in relief and two rivet holes; a tapering strap end with crude zoomorph and one chipped edge; one entwined beast with possible cruciform design and remains of tinning or silvering. 30 grams total, 29-44 mm
Found Berkshire, UK. Accompanied by a copies of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report nos.BERK-A8E9E7, BERK-12A995, and BERK-A70390. -
Anglo-Saxon Bronze Entwined Serpent Mount
6th-7th century A.D.Estimate: £300 - 400 (‡+bp*)
Opening Bid: £150
With openwork design of two serpents interlaced, each with billeted body and lentoid eyes, ropework border to the shorter sides; old collector's accession numbers to the underside '91.115' and '15871'. 10.9 grams, 46 mm
UK collection formed 1970s-1990s. Ex property of an English gentleman.
The decorative pattern of this mount is similar to what, according to S. West, is an Anglo-Saxon die found in Suffolk, where legless animal forms are represented lying head to tail, with beaded bodies within a beaded border. Also here the animals are showing interlaced jaws and headed bodies, all contained in a border.
