Finds Tray – Bird brooch – The Past

This little bird, found by a metal-detectorist in Corhampton/Meonstoke, Hampshire, was once a brooch. Dating to the 6th century, it measures just 20mm long and 10mm wide, weighing 4.06g.

The brooch was cast from copper alloy, after which its surface was gilded. Remains of the bright gilding have survived in the chip-carved grooves, highlighting the bird’s curved beak and the intricate geometric detail that decorates its pointed oval wing. The bird is shown in profile, and though its feet and tail are partially broken, enough remains to identify it as a bird of prey or possibly a raven. A circular recess forms its eye, which would have once glinted with a tiny gem.

In style, the brooch is very similar to Merovingian examples, such as the British Museum objects 1902,1108.23 (http://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/H_1902-1108-23) and 1867,0729.35 (http://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/H_1867-0729-35). Both of these British Museum birds have a remaining eye crafted from a tiny garnet and set into a circular recess serving as a socket, strengthening suggestions that the Hampshire example could have had the same.

Remnants of a pin and possible catch-plate, both made of iron, still adhere to the reverse of the brooch. When complete it would have been a beautiful ornament, reflecting the status of its early medieval wearer.

For more information on bird brooches of the early medieval period, go to https://finds.org.uk/counties/findsrecordingguides/brooches-2/ and search for the sub-heading ‘A note on bird brooches of middle and late early-medieval date’.

For more information about this particular brooch, see https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/1185717 or search for HAMP-59E2D5 on the Portable Antiquities Scheme database.