Merovingian-Frankish - Silver Gilt Square-Headed Brooch with Garnets > Lot No. 590

Description:
Circa 5th-6th century AD. A fine example of a Merovingian-Frankish cast silver square-headed brooch, its quadrangular headplate featuring a thick pelleted border on the three outer edges, with a panel of incised zoomorphic decoration in an evolved version of Salin’s Style I; two scaphoid and two circular cloisonné garnets placed symmetrically above the bow, featuring one medial and two lateral heavy cast ribs with billeted panels between; the setting for a large circular cabochon garnet placed at the apex of the bow, the stone lost in antiquity; the brooch fractured at the junction of the bow with the footplate; with pierced hinge lugs in situ on the reverse.

Measurements:
40mm; 14.93 grams.

Condition:
Fine, lacking the catchplate segment and one stone.

References:
Menghin, W. The Merovingian Period - Europe Without Borders, Berlin, 2007.

Provenance:
Found near Canterbury, Kent, circa 1988 (Treasure Act Ref 2004 T186a and returned to finder).

Comments notes:
This piece was found in about 1988 and reported at that time to the local Coroner under the former Treasure Trove procedures. It was pictured in Treasure Hunting magazine at that time (issue date details not known). The Coroner returned it to the finder but, in 2004, the BM became aware of the piece and instigated an enquiry. The finder was exonerated and the piece returned to him, hence the existance of a Treasure Act reference 16 years after it was found. A rare and interesting find that would almost certainly be retained under the present Treasure Act finds reporting system.

Export licence:
No

Estimate: £300 - 400 (EUR 360 - 480; USD 470 - 630)

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

Sold for: £260