Anglo-Saxon - Disc on Bow Square-Headed Brooch > Lot No. 589

Description:
5th-6th century AD. An extremely rare example of an Anglo-Saxon square-headed brooch complete with the disc on the apex of the bow, comprising a square headplate, bow and openwork footplate; the headplate rectangular with three zones of decoration: the outer zone features flat panels with Y-shaped punched decoration in two series and rectangular panels in the corners, covered with silver foil; the inner panel comprising a plain border enclosing a beaded line within which is a series of square animal-limb ornaments with plain panels at the upper corners; the central zone comprising a three-strand vertical bar flanked by two Style I profile faces, above which are set two square cloisonné garnets; the bowl formed as a shallow dish with no surface decoration and obscured by the disc feature (about 2mm thick), cast with two broad concentric incised lines with traces of punched beading and an eccentrically placed silver foil disc on a copper-alloy plate, forming the head of the securing rivet; from the lower sides of the bow two openwork sections forming the arched necks of zoomorphs whose rounded heads and everted lips joining the footplate; the eyes marked as punched roundels, and punched dot details on raised upper borders on the necks; below the junction with the bow, the lozengiform footplate comprising a raised central rib with pyramidal detail on the junction with the bow, flanked by four curved zones of the same square animal-limb ornament as on the headplate extending to lateral silver-foil discs; between the central rib and the discs two triangular cloisonné garnets; the brooch terminating in a large silver foil disc, above which the animal-limb ornaments ending in u-shaped jaws; the pin-lugs and catchplate present on the reverse, but incomplete; the heavy gilding and the silver plates remaining substantially complete.

Measurements:
145mm; 115 grams.

Condition:
Good very fine condition, professionally cleaned and conserved.

References:
Cf. MacGregor, A. & Bolick, E. A Summary Catalogue of the Anglo-Saxon Collections (Non-Ferrous Metals) BAR British Series 230, 1993, p.118 items 13.13, 13.14.

Export licence:
No

Estimate: £6,000 - 8,000 (EUR 7,220 - 9,620; USD 9,510 - 12,680)

Auction date: Friday 19th March 2010 at The Swedenborg Hall 20-21 Bloomsbury Way
London WC1A 2TH

Sold for: £5,500