A viking so called ‘five-lobed’ openwork tortoise brooch

Copper-alloy, 100.8 grams, 110.48 mm. 9th-11th century. A domed, hollow, elliptical brooch usually worn in pairs by Scandinavian women from England to Ukraine. The uppermost feature is an openwork dome with a hemispherical top-mount and a double-contour collar. From this radiate four double-contour bands which lead to the upper and lower lobes, each in the form of an animal-head with billetted neck in Jellinge Style. Between these are panels of double-contour tendril interlace executed in openwork. The outer edges of this field are pierced for rivets, of which four remain in situ. Outside the openwork panels is a solid zone consisting of two-strand guilloches interspersed with rectangular panels bearing interlocking ‘T’- and ‘U’-shaped motifs. Outside this is the flange of the brooch which is plain apart from the outer rim which bears animal-head decoration. The catchplate and hinge-lug are present, with remains of the substantial iron pin still in place.

Published in:

British artefacts Volume 2 – Middle Saxon and Viking by Brett Hammond (2010) page 40/41, fig. 1.1.3-c.