Medieval Bronze Ring Brooch

Medieval Bronze Ring Brooch

Code: 10453

£95.00 Approx $119.8, €110.85
 

This is a complete medieval bronze ring-brooch, dating to the 13th century AD. Ring-brooches are the most common type medieval brooch to survive and had a practical function: to fasten tunics, especially at the neck. Shaped as rings, with a long central pin, these brooches varied enormously in size and could be tiny, smaller than a fingernail. Ring-brooches were made of costly gold or silver, or of much cheaper copper or pewter. They were worn mostly until the late fourteenth century when changing fashions in dress included more closely tailored clothes and the growing use of button fastenings.

This example is decorated with six turrets, each originally set with alternating pastes. Similar turreted brooches have been recorded LIN-476F7FWILT-E1E22CGLO-494324 and SUR-3342C5 etc. The pin is original, intact and moves freely.  This would have once secured woolen fabrics. A nice excavated example with much of the original gold gilding.

OBJECT: Ring-brooch

CULTURE: Medieval

DATE: c. 1200 - 1300 AD

MATERIAL: Bronze

SIZE: 29mm x 6mm

WEIGHT:  7.9 grams

PROVENANCE: Ex. West Yorkshire Collection