Saxon Period Iron Sceptre Head

Comprising: trapezoidal headplate with beast-head spurs to the upper angles and concentric panels of Style I ornament; shallow bow with central cell and garnet insert; long footplate with lateral lappets and central lozenge; facing mask above a trapezoidal bar finial; pin-lugs and catch to the reverse. 82 grams, 11.5 cm



Found U.K. British private collection, acquired by 2000.

The meaning of the 'facing mask' motif is probably related to the profile masks so 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).

Marzinzik's Type I.6 rectangular loop with thick edges, recessed bar, leaf-shaped garnet to each angle, punched detailing to the carinated ridge. 8.38 grams, 33.8 mm



Found while searching with a metal detector near Micheldever, near Winchester, Hampshire, UK, on Sunday 17th March 2013. Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no.HAMP-A0905A.

Examples are found in southern and eastern England and date broadly from the sixth century (Marzinzik, 2003, 24-5, pl.16).

Comprising pins, strap ends, mounts, tweezers, brooches and others; mostly fragmentary. 117 grams total, 13-59 mm



Found Thwing, Yorkshire Wolds, UK. Acquired from the finder in 2009. Property of a Nottinghamshire gentleman.