Late Anglo-Saxon 'The Rodings' Bronze Disc Brooch with Regardant Beast

Each with a suspension loop (one occluded) and decorative terminal, possibly formed as beast heads. 55 grams total, 13.2-13.5 cm



From a Norfolk excavation in the late 19th century. Ex property of a Nottingham gentleman by descent.

Including seven accompanied by Portable Antiquities Scheme records: an incomplete small-long brooch with ring-and-dot ornament; an incomplete small square-headed brooch with headplate featuring zoomorphic mouldings in Salin's Style 1; spindle whorl decorated with vertical striations; an incomplete small Kentish square-headed brooch; fragment of a great square-headed brooch; hooked tag with perforated oval head, Read Class A Type 2; disc brooch decorated with concentric circles and punched dots; together with other miscellaneous artefacts. 240 grams total, 19-45 mm



Found Berkshire, UK. Accompanied by a copies of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report nos.BERK-056093, BERK-725B84, BERK-25F9D1, BERK-04DF75, BERK-051CDB, BERK-0605B4, and BERK-05016C.

Of Martin's Type 3.2.4 (Holywell Row) featuring a trapezoidal headplate with lateral trapezoidal panels, domed knop above; deep bow with facetted ends, T-shaped footplate with lateral lappets, horse-head finial with discoid nostrils; complete ferrous pin and catchplate to the reverse, hollowed reverse to the horse-head. 71 grams, 13.5 cm



Acquired circa 1995. From an East Anglian private collection.

The Holywell Row type in Martin's analysis extends from the northern shore of the Thames Estuary as far as Yorkshire, but with a cluster in the Cambridge area. The edges of the headplate show the faintest traces of punched detailing, if this is not the result of the original clean-up when the brooch was taken from its mould; similar marks can be discerned on the footplate below the junction with the bow. The finial shows little zoomorphic detailing but the nostrils are characteristic of the type. The presence of the pin is remarkable.