Saxon Bronze Pin Set Pin Head

Comprising a rectangular plate with repoussé silver guilloche panel to the centre and two mounting studs to the reverse; short ferrous pin with mineralised textile to the both faces; flat loop with applied silver panel; Marzinzik's Type II.15a; old collector's legend to reverse 'Nr. Melton Mowbray, Leics'. 21.55 grams, 72 mm



Acquired on the UK art market in 2010. From a Leicestershire, UK, collection.

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).

Including: wrist clasp elements, hooked tag and other items. 22.7 grams total, 9-52 mm



Acquired on the European art market since the early 2000s. From the private Northern Ireland collection of R.M.