'The Holt' Anglo-Scandinavian Viking Bronze Borre Brooch

Crescentic in profile with imitation filigree and granulation to the obverse, pierced suspension lug. 2.09 grams, 28 mm



From an old English collection, 1990s. Property of an Essex, UK, gentleman.

Two tongue-shaped panels forming two of the three arms of a trefoil brooch; each with a low-relief design of ring-and-dot motifs connected by straps with lateral spurs. 17.6 grams total, 37 mm each



Found Suffolk, UK. From an old private collection of Norfolk, UK, gentleman, formed since 1998.

The two panels bear the same design and clearly belong o the same brooch; the variation in their modern appearance is probably due to the soil conditions in which they were preserved.

Comprising: two elliptical bronze tortoise brooches, each domed with raised ornament of four Borre-style faces with pellet eyes to the centre of a panel of body parts and hatching with two more faces to the narrow ends, wide flange, catchplate, pin-hinge and pendant attachment bar to the reverse; two suspension links, each an omega-shaped loop with lateral coiled ends and ring above; three swags of graduated beads (restrung) - upper: pale blue glass oblate beads, crystal annular beads, melon beads; middle: deep blue and dark green glass and lapis lazuli polyhedral and annular beads; lower: oblate and polyhedral amber and glass beads. 310 grams total, 57 cm total long



From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s.

The most characteristic items of Viking period women's jewellery are oval brooch pairs, called 'tortoise brooches' in the literature. As in this example, the brooches themselves were usually connected by swags of coloured beads or by chains supporting tools such as tweezers or a small knife, as well as amulets.