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)

Ancient

On ViewAncient Gallery

Interpretive Notes

Web Text

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