Gilt copper-alloy, 14.39 grams, 24.04 mm. 7th-8th century AD. A finely detailed plate brooch comprising a billeted flange and hemispherical boss with six running scroll motifs executed in three-line bands. The brooch is surmounted by a hexafoil plate with central knop, fixed with a stud passing down the centre of the boss and peined onto the underside. On the reverse the hinge and catchplate are present. The running scroll design is typical of Irish metalwork of the 6th-9th century and the brooch's overall profile is similar to the Steeple Bumpstead (Essex) decorative boss, of 8th century date. Reference: Youngs, S. (ed.) The Work of Angels. Masterpieces of Celtic Metalwork, 6th-9th centuries AD, London, 1989 items 140, 183, 189. Very fine condition, much gilding remaining. Provenance: found Leicestershire, England in the 1930's.

Copper-alloy, 75 grams, 94.29 mm. 9th-10th century AD. A Viking period oval domed brooch, the precursor to the more elaborate 'tortoise' brooches. The shallow, ridged dome extends to a narrow flange. The decorative scheme comprises four lobed faces with annular eyes amid Jellinge Style tendril ornamentation. A small piercing on the flange allows a swag of beads to be attached to the rim. On the reverse the catchplate is in place with remnants of mineralised iron; the pin was attached to a sturdy T-shaped fitting which is attached to the inside of the dome. Reference: Nerman, B. Die Vendelzeit Gotlands, Stockholm, 1969 plate VII:5 item 271. Very fine condition. Provenance: from an old English collection.

Copper-alloy, 39.55 grams, 56.41 mm. 9th-10th century AD. A Scandinavian boar-head brooch, cast in two sections with a decorative upper elementattached to a plain back-plate with spring-lugs and catchplate intact. The upper section is cast hollow, its triangular upper surface divided by a heavy, cast median rib, the sides and rear with zoomorphic ornament. The corners of the wider end are reinforced with heavy lobed ‘ears’. Reference: Franceschi, G., Asger, J. & Magnus, B. Mennesker, Guder og Masker i Nordisk Jernalderkunst, Bind1, Silkeborg, 2005, figs.130-1. Some loss to sidewalls, otherwise fine condition. Provenance: from an old English collection.

Copper-alloy and enamel, 5.31 grams, 25.32 mm. Circa 10th-11th century AD. An Anglo-Scandinavian disc brooch comprising a central enamel discsurrounded by seven radiating knops filled with enamel cabochons (three remaining). The central panel is a dark blue enamel background with an inset radiating cloison design in black and turquoise enamel. The pin-lug and attachment point for the catchplate are in place on the reverse. Reference: West. S. A Corpus of Anglo-Saxon Finds From Suffolk, East Anglian Archaeology 84, Ipswich, 1998 p.121 fig.48. Very fine condition. Provenance: from an old English collection, found East Anglia.

Copper-alloy and enamel, 4.22 grams, 24.67 mm. 10th-11th century AD. A disc brooch with raised central tray enclosing a floral pattern of four longer and four shorter elliptical leaves, filled with turquoise enamel against a field of dark blue. Around the edge is set a series of six lobes with dark blue enamel cabochons. Reference: Hattatt, R. Brooches of Antiquity, Oxford, 1987 item 1315. Very fine condition. Provenance: found Suffolk, England.

Copper-alloy, 39.69 grams, 53.69 mm. 9th-10th century AD. A boar-head brooch, hollow cast in two sections with a decorative upper surface attached to a plain back-plate with spring-lugs and catchplate intact. The upper decorative surface is divided by a heavy, cast median rib with zoomorphic ornament in the outer panels, arranged symmetrically along the rib with a similar transverse band. The corners of the wider end are reinforced with heavy lobed ‘ears’. The sides feature recessed panels. Reference: Franceschi, G., Asger, J. & Magnus, B. Mennesker, Guder og Masker i Nordisk Jernalderkunst, Bind1, Silkeborg, 2005, figs.130-1. Some loss to the sidewalls, otherwise fine condition. Provenance: from an old English collection.

Copper-alloy, 65 grams, 56.59 mm. 9th-10th century AD. The boar-head brooch form is an evolved derivative of the Late Roman supporting-arm brooch, whose sub-triangular form it echoes. This piece is hollow cast with a decorative upper, surface attached to a plain back-plate with spring-lugs and catchplate intact. The upper decorative surface is divided by a heavy, cast median rib with zoomorphic ornament in the outer panels, arranged symmetrically along the rib with a similar transverse band. The corners of the wider end are reinforced with heavy lobed ‘ears’. The side panels are decorated with zones of interlace ornament. The upper-end panel bears a continuation of the median rib and traces of ornamental interlace; the lower-end panel or muzzle is plain. The transverse band is pierced by two holes to accept disc-headed pins, one of which is still in situ; these probably represent 'eyes' on the stylized head. Reference: Franceschi, G., Asger, J. & Magnus, B. Mennesker, Guder og Masker i Nordisk Jernalderkunst Bind1, Silkeborg, 2005, figs.130-1. Very fine condition. Provenance: from an old English collection.

Copper-alloy, 5.39 grams; 44.65 mm. 11th-15th century AD. A good example of a repoussé annular brooch, formed as a domed ring with inner and outer flanges. The outer flange is decorated with a series of repoussé pellets, with four large, equally-spaced pellets on the ring. Incised linear decoration is added between the larger pellets. The plain inner flange is pierced by the central hole, and a second lateral hole accepts the flat copper-alloy pin which is still intact. Brooches of this type were a common fashion of the eastern Baltic from the late Viking age through to the later medieval period. Reference: Criciuviene, E., Ziemgaliai - The Semigalians, Riga, 2005, p.187-9, Jakstaiciai grave 5. Extremely fine condition. Ex European collection.