Context (Analysis)
Brooch has been drilled on reverse of bow for metal analysis. Date of drilling and analysis results are unknown.
Event Date
Author: Jane Pettitt

Context (References)
Fox, Cyril. (1923). The Archaeology of the Cambridge Region. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Plate XXVII, Figure 2: Girton.

Event Date 1923
Author: Jane Pettitt

Context (References)
Hollingworth, Edith Joan, and Maureen M. O'Reilly. (1925). The Anglo-Saxon Cemetery at Girton College, Cambridge. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
Event Date 1925
Author: Jane Pettitt

Description (Physical description)
Cruciform brooch, head knob and side knobs cast in one with the head plate. Side lappets decorated with down biting birds' heads. Horse head foot, prominent eyes, wide flaring nostrils. Spiral winged decoration protrudes from top of head knob. Lump of corroded iron where pin was (with textile impression). Middle of head plate has a thin plate of bronze glued on
Event Date 15/6/2001
Author: maa

Context (Amendments / updates)
Found with paper label which reads: "06.306". 1906.306 is a pair of tweezers and an ear pick, which have been identified. The correct accession number is currently unknown.
Event Date 15/6/2001
Author: maa

Context (Found together / assemblage)
Object seen with a post it which reads 'Z 27355 A? Should be a pair'. However, it is not clear from the description of this IDNO record whether this brooch is the one to which is refers.
Event Date 11/7/2016
Author: Eleanor Wilkinson

Description (Physical description)
A large, bronze cruciform brooch. It has been designed with a large horse head foot plate, the horse has high, protruding eyes and large flaring nostrils. Other animals are visible on the brooch - two birds are either side of the centre plate and an animal head with spiral sides rises from the head plate. The bow has a central square raised knob. The nose of the horse at the bottom of the foot plate appears to have been inlaid with a different metal, possibly ?silver. The centre of the head plate has had a square piece of sheet metal affixed to it. The catch plate is still in situ on the back. The pin no longer survives however the spring mechanism is surrounded by corroded iron and the remains of textile has been preserved in this.
Event Date 11/7/2016
Author: Eleanor Wilkinson

Context (Amendments / updates)
Cyril Fox documents this object as being from Girton (see Archaeology of the Cambridge Region reference for further information). Whilst this identifies the place, it is still unclear what the excavation date and accession number is for this object. The other objects photographed with this brooch in Fox's publication have been documented in the accession register and catalogue cards as 1886, hence the source year and information queries for this object.
Event Date 20/11/2020
Author: Jane Pettitt

Description (Physical description)
Large, cast copper alloy cruciform brooch. Rectangular headplate with flared wings, with light longitudinal grooves, and raised central panel with applied silvered plate; half-round, waisted side knobs and a top knob, surmounted by an animal head framed by spirals. C-shaped bow with rectangular-section areas to top and bottom, and a central square boss. Flat panel is tapered with waisted and bevelled lower edges; human-headed lappets with helmet masks in profile. Horse-head terminal with protruding eyes, flaring nostrils, and a triangular projection with applied silvered plate. Intact pin bar lug and catchplate; traces of mineralised textile and corroded iron around the pin bar lug.
Event Date 20/11/2020
Author: Jane Pettitt