11th century AD . A cast bronze box brooch formed as an openwork outer shell, inner container and bottom plate; the upper face with central conical boss and four small satellite bosses each with a silver surface disc; to the outer face four pierced tongue-shaped panels with D-shaped finials proud of the upper face, each with a silvered element to the upper end; the bottom plate with integral catchplate and central void, four attachment pins to the underside; the upper face and sidewall executed in Urnes Style zoomorphic openwork; the inner element a sheet bronze container. 93 grams, 55 mm (2"). Private collection, South West England; acquired in the 1950s. On the Baltic island of Gotland, high-ranking females wore box brooches to secure their outer garments at the shoulders. The inner container may have been used to hold small valuables.

Fine condition; pin absent.