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brooch
brooch

brooch

Object NameEnameled Brooch
Made FromCopper Alloy, Iron, Glass
Date950-1100
Place Madeprobably Southern England
Techniqueassembled
SizeD: .25; Diam: 2.7 cm
Accession Number99.1.10
Credit LineGift of the Wunsch Foundation, Inc.
Curatorial Area(s)
On ViewAncient Gallery
Interpretive Notes
Enamel is finely powdered glass mixed with a liquid binder and fired until it becomes solid. Enamel and copper jewelry, such as this brooch, was made in England before Roman rule and remained popular for centuries as a low-cost alternative to glass and precious metal. The blue star pattern may represent a cross, signaling the Christian identity of its wearer.
Physical DescriptionEnameled Brooch. Deep blue opaque glass appearing black, bright blue opaque, red opaque, and white opaque glass; assembled. Brooch: circular. Copper alloy cloisons attached to upper surface of copper alloy disk with seven stilted semicircular lugs; perforated copper alloy projections and catch, and iron pin attached to lower surface of disk; all copper alloy surfaces gilded. Cloisons arranged as follows: at center, cruciform compartment containing bright blue inlay; between arms of cross, four tear-shaped compartments, with rounded ends near center and pointed ends touching edge; two opposed compartment have white inlays and other compartments have white inlays; spaces between arms of cross, sides of tear-shaped cloisons and edge of brooch are filled with deep blue. Each lug has deep blue spherule attached to upper surface.
Provenance
Source Wunsch Foundation Inc. - 1999-10-29
buckle
500-699
vase
Ando Cloisonne Company, Ltd.
1898-1912
inlay
perhaps 1-99
medallion
1100-1299