Early Medieval - Gothic - Silver-Gilt Bow Brooch > Lot No. 841

Description:
Circa 5th-6th century AD. A Gothic radiate-headed bow brooch comprising a D-shaped headplate with five flat, radiating lobes, its panel decorated with opposed scrolls; the bow formed with three prominent vertical ribs; the triangular footplate with opposed scroll decoration in the central panel and elliptical ‘eye’ decoration along the outer edges; the finial formed as a flat lobe with transverse ribbing; iron pin missing as normal.

Measurements:
11.71 grams, 66.65 mm.

Condition:
Extremely fine condition.

References:
Cf. Menghin, The Merovingian Period: Europe Without Borders, Berlin, 2007 (Kerch, Ukraine, p.303).

Provenance:
From an old English collection.

Estimate: £600 - 900 (EUR 720 - 1,070; USD 950 - 1,430)

Auction date: Thursday 9th September 2010 at The Swedenborg Hall 20-21 Bloomsbury Way
London WC1A 2TH

Sold for: £500