File:Early-Medieval (Anglo-Saxon) Small Square-Headed Brooch. Drawing, Frank Basford (FindID 195847).jpg

English: A fragment of a cast copper alloy small square-headed brooch of Early Early-Medieval date (AD 475 – AD 575). Length: 18.1mm; width: 15.9mm and 4.4mm thick. Weight: 1.42g.

The fragment is part of the foot-plate and all the breaks are old. Viewing the brooch in plan, the front is decorated with a characteristic moulded cruciform shape. It has a small circular depression at its centre. Only one of the arms of the cross is complete and its end is formed by a semi-circle containing a D-shaped moulding. The upper arm and the two side arms are flanked on either side by a beaded border and the two upper quadrants are further decorated with moulded abstract designs. The two lower quadrants are more simply decorated with curved mouldings. The rear face is slightly convex and along the longitudinal centre-line there is an incomplete and abraded catch-plate. When viewed from the side the top of the catch-plate is straight with the remaining edge curving down to the rear face. On the rear face, close to either side of the catch-plate, there are several longitudinal scratch marks. These marks may have been created as a result of fettling following the casting process.

This fragment is much worn at the front and around the edges. These surfaces have a shiny dark brown patina and the crevices between the raised moulded decorative features have pale green/buff copper alloy corrosion products. The rear face, including the catch-plate, have a similar patina which is dull. There are also copper alloy corrosion products on the rear face which occur as patchy blisters. There is no trace of gilding or tinning although this may have worn off. No evidence for melting or burning.

Similar style brooches are published in MacGregor, A and Bolick, E. 1993.”Ashmolean Museum, Oxford: A Summary Catalogue of the Anglo-Saxon Collections”. 123-24. British Archaeological Reports, British Series 230. Oxford: Tempvs Repartvm.