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LOT 1194
Large Anglo-Saxon Cruciform Brooch
6TH-7TH CENTURY A.D.
5 1/8 in. (57 grams, 13 cm).
A bronze cruciform brooch comprising a rectangular headplate with trapezoidal flanking panels and three radiating squares with pairs of addorsed bird-heads; deep bow with domed centre; footplate flanked by annular lappets; horse-head foot with raised points for the eyes and discoid nostrils; pin-lug and catch to the reverse; repaired, a marriage. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceFound UK.
Private York collection, 1992.
Property of a Sussex, UK, teacher.
Cf. West, S., A Corpus of Anglo-Saxon Finds From Suffolk, East Anglian Archaeology 84, Ipswich, 1998, fig.148, item 9 (foot), and fig.152, item 13 (body).
CONDITIONTimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process
AUCTIONS:
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Anglo-Saxon and Other Artefact Group
2nd-14th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £64
A mixed bronze group comprising: an Anglo-Saxon tongue-shaped strap end with pelletted border, silver-inlaid panel of a regardant beast, securing rivet, animal-head finial; a Roman bronze finger ring with stepped shoulders; medieval tweezers with balustered and notched edges. 16 grams total, 21-62 mm
Fine condition.
Acquired 1970s-1980s. Ex UK collection. Property of a Portsmouth, UK gentleman. -
Anglo-Saxon Artefact Collection
Circa 6th-8th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £65
A mixed bronze group comprising: a narrow strap end with split upper edge, low-relief interlace motif, beast-head finial; a mount fragment with low-relief knotwork, pierced at one corner; a gilt chip-carved fragment probably of a cruciform brooch with high-relief Style I profile face; both parts of a dress pin with polyhedral head and ribbed upper section. 24 grams total, 2.1-13 cm
Pin repaired.
Found Roding's, Essex, UK. Acquired on the UK antiques market between 1974-1985. Albert Ward collection, Essex, UK. -
Anglo-Saxon Chip-Carved Saucer Brooch with Face of Woden
5th-8th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £2,210
A superb chip-carved saucer or button brooch with extensive remains of gilding, displaying a stylised male face with puffy cheeks, large ears, long moustache, raised pellet eyes of different sizes, hair dressed in vertical ribs alternating plain and textured, some chevron and pellet patterning to the face; stub remains of catch fitting to reverse. 5.2 grams, 23 mm
Fine condition, slight scuffing to rim and one cheek.
Found UK. Acquired in the 1990s. From a North Yorkshire private collection, UK.
The brooch does not fall neatly into Avent & Evison's typology, being somewhat larger than the standard forms of button brooch and with an unusually detailed face. Broadly, it resembles Class J with alternating plain and textured vertical strands in the hair but does not have the horizontal band across the brow nor the stylised beard associated with the type. The eccentric placement of the eyes suggests that the image may be the face of the god Woden (Odin) who famously sacrificed one eye in exchange for wisdom.
