1
Alex Johnston Arte Artefact Analysis – Cruciform Brooch Description: The artefact is an Anglo-Saxon Saxon cruciform brooch. They are characterized by their resemblance to a crucifix, hence where they get their name. The brooch has a square-shaped square head plate with three D-shaped knobs sprouting off of the top and sides. The knob on the top appears to be slightly damaged on the right side, and the left knob is slightly smaller than the other two. On the face of the head plate there is a border of small half-circles circles inside of slightly slight larger half-circles. circles. There is a scratch running from the top top-center center of the head plate to the right knob, and a small chip in the center. The back of the brooch has some slight rusting around the present pin-lug.. The bow of the brooch is thick and rounded d with quite a sharp curve going into the catch-plate plate on the end. The brooches colouring goes from green in places to grey in others, this is likely caused by oxidization and weathering.
Measurements Length: 51 mm Width: 23.7 mm Thickness: 6.2 mm Weight: 9.8 g
3 Awesome Artist Rendering:
3 Discussion: The artefact that I chose to analyze was a small Anglo-Saxon cruciform brooch. The brooch is made out of a copper-alloy or bronze common to the 5th and 6th centuries AD in what is now known as Britain.1 The cruciform brooch is called so due to its resemblance of a Christian crucifix, even though the wearer my not have been Christian at all. There have been similar brooches found all over Great Britain, including Bedfordshire and Dorset. This is due to the design being adopted by various Germanic people, including the Anglo-Saxons. The design evolved out of the Roman crossbow fibula brooch, and was only adopted by said Germanic groups in the early 5th century.2 This brooch is in whole condition, but is really quite plain. It was not likely owned by anyone wealthy, as it does not have very many decorations or designs on it, and is quite small. Although there is a great deal of cruciform brooches out there, it is very rare to find any two exactly the same, even if they are a pair from the same grave site.3 Normally, if a single cruciform brooch is worn on the shoulder, it is by a man, whereas a woman would wear two brooches on her chest to hold her garments in place. This is one of the ways that men`s and women’s graves are told apart. A grave with just a single brooch found is a man’s, and if two brooches are found, it’s assumed it’s a woman’s grave.4 Cruciform brooches were usually worn by women to hold together light shawls, or were even just sewn right on to dresses. Though this cruciform brooch most likely had a practical use, other more extravagantly designed ones would be worn as decorations by wealthier persons. The brooch was cast in a copper-alloy in two separate pieces. Firstly, the head-plate was cast and then the border designs would have been added after. It was then attached to the bow piece, which was cast separately.5 Cruciform brooches, such as this one, were the most common brooches of the Anglo-Saxons up until the end of the 6th century. After that the designs became much larger and ornate, turning into the also quite common long brooch. This cruciform brooch would have been a very useful everyday item 1
D H Kennet, "A late 6th-century cruciform brooch from Toddington, Bedfordshire: an Anglo-Saxon connexion examined," Medieval archaeology, 13. (1969): 206. 2 Brett Hammond, . TimeLine Originals, "TimeLine Originals." Last modified 2012. Accessed October 26, 2012. http://www.time-lines.co.uk/anglo-saxon-brooches-4520-0.html. 3 Eagles, Bruce, and Catherine Mortimer. "Early Anglo-Saxon Artefacts from Hod Hill Dorset." The Antiquaries Journal. 73. (1993): 133. 4 Jessup, Ronald. Anglo-Saxon Jewellery. (New York: Frederick A. Praeger, Inc. 1906): 64. 5 Jessup, 105.
3 for its Anglo-Saxon owner. Without how would these barbarians ever have kept there shawls and cloaks together?
Bibliography Eagles, Bruce, and Catherine Mortimer. "Early Anglo-Saxon Artefacts from Hod Hill Dorset." The Antiquaries Journal. 73. (1993): 131-136. Hammond, Brett. TimeLine Originals, "TimeLine Originals." Last modified 2012. Accessed October 26, 2012. http://www.time-lines.co.uk/anglo-saxon-brooches-4520-0.html Jessup, Ronald. Anglo-Saxon Jewellery. New York: Frederick A. Praeger, Inc., 1906. Kennet, D H. "A late 6th-century cruciform brooch from Toddington, Bedfordshire: an Anglo-Saxon connexion examined." Medieval archaeology. 13. (1969): 206.