Brooch

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This penannular silver gilt brooch was found at Croy in Inverness-shire in a hoard consisting primarily of Pictish jewellery. It was buried between 800 and 900.

The brooch has ends resembling beasts holding circular discs in their jaws. Their eyes are triangular settings of amber, as are settings in the discs and oval part of the hoop. Some of the ornament was gilt. The hoop is broken and the pin is missing.

A variety of Pictish penannular brooches have been found. They all have a characteristic panel on the hoop and frequently they have lobed terminals. The pins, when they survive, are quite distinctive. Silver and bronze examples are known.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-036-202-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.FC 12
• Date: Between 800 and 900
  
• Material: Silver; with expanded ends and amber settings; surrounded by double rope-like moulding
  Brooch, penannular
  
• Dimensions:
• What: Brooch, penannular
  
• Subject:
• Who: James Shearer (Possible finder)
  
• Where: Scotland, Inverness-shire, Croy
  
• Event:
• Description: Penannular silver brooch with expanded ends and amber settings, surrounded by double rope-like mouldings, from Croy, Inverness-shire
  
• References:
  • Ross, Alexander. Notice of the discovery of portions of two penannular brooches of silver with beds of glass and amber, and a silver coin of Coenwulf, King of Mercia (A.D. 795-818), at Mains of Croy, Inverness-shire. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquar 
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