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Square-Headed Bow Brooch

500–600
Not on view
This brooch displays the Anglo-Saxon preference for lavish decoration, with a particular emphasis on fantastic animal forms. Dividing the foot is a strip of niello (a black substance containing silver, copper, lead, and sulphur) terminating in an animal’s head, and above the foot is a pair of stylized animal heads with gaping jaws.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Square-Headed Bow Brooch
  • Date: 500–600
  • Culture: Anglo-Saxon
  • Medium: Gilded copper alloy inlaid with niello
  • Dimensions: 5 3/8 in. × 3 in. × 15/16 in. (13.6 × 7.6 × 2.4 cm)
  • Classification: Metalwork-Copper
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Rogers Fund, and Alastair B. Martin, Levy Hermanos Foundation Inc. and J. William Middendorf II Gifts, 1985
  • Object Number: 1985.209
  • Curatorial Department: Medieval Art and The Cloisters

More Artwork

More Artwork
Bird-Shaped Brooch, Gilded silver inlaid with niello and garnets, Anglo-Saxon
Bird-Shaped Brooch
Anglo-Saxon
500–550
Whorl-Shaped Brooch, Copper alloy, gilding, niello, garnet, Frankish
Whorl-Shaped Brooch
Frankish
550–650
Miniature Square-Headed Brooch, Gilded silver inlaid with niello, Anglo-Saxon
Miniature Square-Headed Brooch
Anglo-Saxon
first half 6th century
Miniature Square-Headed Brooch, Gilded silver inlaid with niello, Anglo-Saxon
Miniature Square-Headed Brooch
Anglo-Saxon
first half 6th century
Square-Headed Bow Brooch, Gilded silver and niello, Frankish
Square-Headed Bow Brooch
Frankish
second half 6th century

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