Hiberno-Saxon Gilt Bronze Buckle Plate

Comprising: trapezoidal headplate with beast-head spurs to the upper angles and concentric panels of Style I ornament with flanking billets; shallow bow with central cell and garnet cloison insert; short footplate with lateral lappets featuring profile masks and central lozenge; facing mask above a trapezoidal bar finial; pin-lugs and catch to the reverse; mounted on a custom-made stand. 74 grams, 11 cm (126 grams total, 13 cm high including stand)



with ArtAncient Ltd. Private collection, London. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12440-226863.

The meaning of the 'facing mask' motif on the footplate is probably related to the profile masks frequently used in Style I art, where the 'pellet' eye is enclosed by an arched frame: the 'facing mask' repeats this motif to produce a pair of eyes in a doubled 'bow'. An element of visual 'riddling' is no doubt present: the design is neither one thing nor the other, but includes elements of both. Distribution of great square-headed brooches was initially concentrated along the valleys of the Rivers Trent, Thames and Severn, though it was later confined to the East Midlands and East Anglia (Hines, 1997, figs. 101, 102).

Lozengiform in profile with voids in the spandrels and central cross with pelta finial, overlapping scaled developing to scrolls, applied stud at the central junction; lateral lugs pierced to accept connecting chains; vesica-shaped leaves to the base above bulbous junction with the pin (absent). 10.2 grams, 46 mm



Found near Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, UK. From an old private collection of Norfolk, UK, gentleman, formed since 1998. Accompanied by a copy of UK Detector Finds Database (UKDFD) report no.57990.

Dress pins of this type were worn in sets of three connected with chains or thongs.

Formed as a T-shaped finial from a florid cruciform brooch, with facing mask and pellet eyes, lateral bird-head lappets, pelta-shaped panel below; attachment lug to reverse and old collector's inked number '84.144'. 7.8 grams, 33 mm



Found UK. From an important old Mayfair collection. From a Leicestershire, UK, collection.