Silver gilt, 2.75 grams; 16.15 mm. Circa 9th-10th century AD. Fantastic beast's head brooch pin mount, probably from a large penannular brooch similar to the decoration seen on the early eight century ‘Tara Brooch’ from Ireland. The face of the beast is of a deep set stylized design with bold features; deep socket eyes with grooves running round the front of the sockets. In the centre of the piece is a central line with high sides linking the top and bottom sections; around the eyes the line splits and forms the eyebrows that run down the sides, below the eyes the area of the top section drops away then rises and links with the central line forming two nostrils. Ref: Treasures of The National Museum of Ireland; page 198. Published in Hammond, B.M. British Artefacts vol.2 - Middle Saxon and Viking, Witham, 2010. Excessively rare and in extremely fine condition. Ex old English collection. This antiquity is accompanied by an XRF metal test certificate from Oxford X-ray Fluorescence Ltd.