Brooch

Ancient brooches

• Brooches from antiquity and before the Middle Ages are often called fibulae.
• They were necessary as clothes fasteners and markers of social status.
• Metalworking technology advanced during the Iron Age, leading to the creation of decorative fibulae.
• Celtic craftsmen in Europe decorated fibulae with red enamel and coral inlay.
• Brooches in ancient Britain were commonly made of copper alloy or iron.

Medieval brooches

• Germanic tribes during the Migration period created distinctive metalwork.
• Migration period brooches combined Late Roman and Germanic art forms.
• Colourful and technically superior jewellery was created during this period.
• Almandine, a burgundy variety of garnet, was commonly used in brooches.
• Brooch designs included geometric decoration, bird motifs, and intertwining beasts.

Anglo-Saxon brooches

• Early Anglo-Saxon brooches were mostly Continental styles.
• Circular brooches appeared in England in the 5th century.
• Kent craftsmen developed their own distinctive styles and techniques.
• Circular brooches became the preferred type by the end of the 6th century.
• Brooches declined in the 7th century but reappeared and remained fashionable in the 8th century.

Celtic brooches

• Celtic brooches were elaborately decorated penannular and pseudo-penannular types.
• Celtic jewellery differed from Anglo-Saxon craftsmanship.
• Inlaid millefiori glass and curvilinear styles were common in Celtic brooches.
• Celtic artisans were known for their inventiveness, complexity, and craftsmanship.
• The Tara Brooch is a famous example of a Celtic brooch.

Scandinavian brooches

• Scandinavian brooches were intricately carved with animal style ornamentation.
• Viking art styles, such as Oseberg, Borre, and Urnes, influenced Scandinavian brooches.
• Various forms of brooches were common, including circular, bird-shaped, and oval.
• Jellinge and Borre art styles were prominent in Scandinavian brooches.
• Scandinavian seafarers during the Viking Age explored, raided, and colonized new lands.

Brooch Data Sources