File:Early Medieval Brooch (FindID 428357).jpg

English: A copper alloy brooch decorated in a fusion of the Borre and Jellinge styles, possibly a Viking import, dating from 900-950 AD. The brooch is domed and in two parts; a flat backplate and a slightly domed, openwork front. The reverse carries the remains of a double mount for a hinged pin and a catch plate, together with an additional lug at right angles to the pin, which was probably perforated, but is also broken. The hinge and pin are also missing. The openwork upper portion is made up of a single profile beast with a thin, intertwined body, making a roughly triangular shape and with the hind leg gripping the foreleg. This body has a narrow groove or contour line running along each side for the full length of the beast. There is a central copper alloy rivet holding the two sections of the brooch together. There is no visible evidence of gilding: the brooch displays a dark brown patina. It is 32.1mm in diameter and 9.9mm thick. It weighs 13.32g.

These brooches have been the subject of studies by Ingmar Jansson (1984), James Graham-Campbell (1985) and Jane Kershaw (2009). They come in two variants, of composite construction (as here) and of one-piece construction. In 1985 they were concentrated in Scandinavia, leading Graham-Campbell to suggest an East Scandinavian origin; by 2009 eleven were known from Britain.

Another composite example can be found on the database at NCL-7E9EE5. An example of the type with one-piece construction can be found on the database at reference CAM-371E87.