Beschreibung:

MEROVINGIAN SILVER-GILT SQUARE-HEADED BOW BROOCH 6th century AD A silver-gilt bow brooch with rectangular headplate, ribbed bow and lozengiform footplate; the headplate with stamped zigzag border and notched edges, the inner zone divided into two geometric chip-carved panels; the bow with three prominent vertical ribs with punched zigzag detail and facetted panels between; the footplate with zoomorphic lappets flanking the chip-carved upper panels and central rib with punched zigzag detail, extending to a beast-head finial; to the reverse, the catchplate and pin-lugs with ferrous remains of the pin. 18 grams, 62 mm (2 1/4"). Extremely fine condition. Provenance Private collection, Nottinghamshire, UK; acquired late 1980s-early 1990s. Literature Cf. similar square-headed small-long brooches found in the Saxon cemetery at Herpes, Charente, France published in Menghin, W. The Merovingian Period. Europe Without Borders item VII.10.15.