Frankish / Saxon Bronze Bow Brooch 5th-6th Century AD

Description

Heading: Frankish / Saxon bronze bow brooch 5-th-6th century AD

Material: Copper alloy

Date: c6th -5th century AD

Origin: Central Europe, probably Frankish or Saxon origin

Condition: VF, pin present, nice patina, a very unusual and rare type of brooch in good condition

Description: Brooch made in three parts, the foot forming the catch-plate which is decorated with ridges,  then the curved main body attached to a coiled hinge which is formed below a triangular head-plate with three terminal knops; pin attached

Size and Weight: 30mm, 9g

Features and Provenance: Ex TimeLine auctions; previously from an important German collection of brooches formed in the 1980’s.

Brooches as clothes fasteners have been made since the bronze age. As skills and metals advanced, so did the size and elaborateness of the fibulae. Our rare and unusual brooch, could have been made as early as the 5th century AD by Frankish metalworkers. The type is similar to Visigothic and radiate bow type brooches and show the influence other cultures had on European craftmanship, in turn it undoubtedly influenced the metalworkers in Britain.

Condition Summary. This varies with the age of the artefact and there are grades between

Extremely Fine (EF). Very slight traces of wear, all parts of pattern etc present, visible and clear

Very Fine (VF). Some signs of wear on the higher parts of the relief. all parts of pattern etc present, but may be worn

Fine (F). Wear on the artefact and parts of item and pattern etc may be missing or not visible