Anglo-Saxon Nummular Disc Brooch

Sub-rectangular in form with raised oval cell with decoratively notched rim, set with a polished rock crystal cabochon (chipped). 15.2 grams, 23 mm



Found Lincolnshire, UK. Acquired on the UK market, 1990s. Property of a retired academic.

Of Hines's Group X with two discs on the headplate in a rectangular frame surrounded by a frieze of facing human masks, and another mask placed centrally above the junction with the bow; shallow bow with three ribs; curved horse-head lappets flanking a vertical shank with facing mask detailing, discoid lobes and an inverted mask below; pin-lugs to the reverse and solder-scar where the catchplate was attached. 128 grams, 14 cm



Found near Grimsby, Humberside, UK, circa 2010. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11899-204377.

The brooch has many of the characteristics of Hines's Group X but also bears a strong resemblance to an unclassified example from Barrington A, Cambridgeshire (Hines, 1997, pl.101). The frieze of facing masks which forms the border to the headplate has echoes of contemporary motifs found on the headplate of the brooch from Fridaythorpe (Hines, 1997, pl.8(b)) and the crests of helmets such as Valsgarde mounds 5 and 7 (Sweden) - see Mortimer, 2011, p.32-35). The inverted mask on the finial echoes the 7th century shield-fitting from Vall, Gotland (Franceschi et al, 2005, pl.209). The significance of the mask motifs has been discussed in the cited works of Franceschi et al and Mortimer. A link to generations of deified ancestors is one possibility.

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.