Penannular brooch of silver gilt

This silver-gilt penannular brooch is one of the few surviving pieces from a large hoard of Pictish metalwork found by a workman in 1868 at Rogart in Sutherland during railway construction. It dates from the 8th century.

The brooch has cast interlace decoration in a technique called chip carving, or an imitation of it. In the ornamental fields there are decorative studs of red glass in the form of inward-facing birds' heads in full relief, with eyes of green glass.

The use of a cross design and birds' head indicates Christian influence in the design of the brooch.

Record details

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Online ID:	000-100-036-194-C
Image Rights Holder:	National Museums Scotland
Project:	0098: National Museums Scotland Project description \| View all records in project
Ref:	National Museums Scotland X.FC 2
Date:	Between 700 and 800
Material:	Silver; gold-plated; with interlaced ornamentation and birds' heads
Dimensions:
What:	Brooch
Subject:
Who:
Where:	Scotland, Sutherland, Rogart
Event:
Description:	Gold-plated silver brooch with interlaced and birds' head ornamentation, from Rogart
References:	Youngs, Susan (ed). 'The Work of Angels'. Masterpieces of Celtic metalwork, 6th-9th centuries AD. London: British Museums Publications Ltd, 1989, p 116.
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