LOT 1834

Large Anglo-Saxon Bronze Florid Cruciform Brooch

LATE 5TH-6TH CENTURY A.D.

5 7/8 in. (52 grams, 12.3 cm).

With highly decorative openwork border of Style I ornament to the headplate formed as a rectangular median plate with lateral wings, enhanced with punched-pellet detail to the sides and top edge of each; raised central square panel with incised rosette; to the middle of each edge a Style I human mask in plan, formed as a T-shaped brow-and-nasal with two pellet eyes, with pairs of Style I profile bird-heads with curved beaks; the bow deep with facetting at each end; the footplate rectangular with Style I lappets; transverse collar above a finial Style I human mask with complex beard below; pin-lugs and scar for catchplate to reverse.

Found Seaham, Co Durham, UK.
Property of a Durham private collector.

Cf. Hammond, B., British Artefacts vol.1 - Early Anglo-Saxon, Witham, 2009, fig.1.1.4.1-l p.35.

The florid cruciform brooch presents a headplate as a rectangle above the bow, with wings visible to either side. The top and side-knobs show stylised human faces with prominent eyes. The decoration is in style 1. The finial also has the prominent eyes found on the headplate surrounds, with the nose formed by an extension of the footplate and curly moustaches forming at the same time as the part of the flanking animals.