6th-mid 7th century AD. A square-headed bow brooch with rectangular headplate, shallow carinated bow and lozengiform footplate; the headplate with a panel of scrolls within a border of offset triangular niello-filled stamps, outer border with raised lozenges and piercings; the bow with addorsed helmetted masks to the ends; the shoulders with three-line Style I masks above bird-heads; the footplate lozengiform with punched border similar to the headplate, enclosing a hooked cross with scrolled arms; bird motifs to the lower edges and inverted mask to the terminal; to the reverse, a reinforcing plate to the footplate with integral catchplate and scar where the pin-lugs were attached; ferrous residue to the upper edge of the headplate. Cf. similar examples from Barrington, Cambridgeshire published in MacGregor, A. & Bolick, E. A Summary Catalogue of the Anglo-Saxon Collections (Non-Ferrous Metals), Oxford, 1993, p.121, item 14.1 sharing the hooked cross motif on the footplate and openwork border to the headplate. 25 grams, 82mm (3 1/4"). Acquired on the London art market in the 1990s; previously in an old continental European collection. Square-headed brooches are not a common type in England, found mainly in Kent but with outliers in Oxfordshire and Cambridgeshire; they also occur in Scandinavia, where the type originated. They are always finely made and gilded; some bear inset garnet cloisons. They occur in pairs in women's graves, worn at the shoulders to pin a tubular dress or shawl in place. TimeLine Auctions Ltd arranges printed catalogue rostrum Auctions, eAuctions and Timed Auctions where we offer antiquities, ancient artefacts / artifacts, antiques, collectibles, coins, medals and books for public sale.

Very fine condition. Extremely rare.