File:Early Medieval Square Headed Brooch fragment (FindID 833267).jpg

English: Copper alloy brooch fragment. Part of the head-plate and the mid bow of a great square headed brooch. The plate, of thickness 1.9mm, has a central rectangular field occupied by an indeterminate angular motif, possibly rendered in Salin Style I. This is set within a rectangular frame embellished by a series of small juxtaposed lozenges. These recur, probably in two orders, outside this frame on a broad outer field. In one corner of the field a larger plain lozenge appears, perhaps part of a symmetrical arrangement though its counterparts are lost along with the opposite edge of the brooch, or obscured by wear on the same side. The remaining large lozenge has a grey cast which might suggest white metal plating, appearing here only. The mid bow has a slightly facetted appearance though is otherwise plain, and the brooch is broken on the site of a lateral expansion below it. Traces of gilding appear on the display face. A pair of lugs on the reverse of the lower edge of the head-plate retain rust from an iron pin [otherwise lost]. A zone of paler metal which runs around the pin seat, but which remains detached from it, may arise from differential contact between the brooch and the burial garment which it is likely to have fastened, perhaps caused by the pin gear gathering its fabric.

The continuous lozenge motif which dominates the decorative scheme recurs at Bifrons grave 63, Kent (Hines 1997, pl.106b), and the corner lozenges more widely, as at Fillingham, Lincolnshire and elsewhere (ibid. e.g. pls 94-98),

Suggested date: Early Medieval, 500-575.

Length: 58.4mm, Width: 40.3mm, Thickness (at mid bow): 5.6mm, Weight: 27.48gms