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Silver handpin

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From Norrie's Law, near Largo, Fife

Silver handpin
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This silver handpin with red enamel decoration is one of two similar ones found at Norrie's Law near Largo in Fife in a large hoard of silver jewellery and hacksilver. The hoard was buried between 600 and 700.

Red enamel provides a background to the semicircular section decorated in fine spirals and to the central roundel with cross at the top. Around the edge of the pinhead is an engraved herringbone pattern and a line of beading.

Handpins were used as dress fasteners, although some examples, as this one, were clearly high class and expensive jewellery. Handpins of this type are found in both Scotland and Ireland. The similar one in the hoard has a Pictish symbol on its back.

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