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Penannular brooch of silver gilt

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found on St Ninian's Isle, Dunrossness, Shetland

Penannular brooch of silver gilt
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This silver gilt penannular brooch was found in a hoard containing silver objects and part of a porpoise's jaw, buried on St Ninian's Isle at Dunrossness in Shetland sometime between 750 and 825. The hoard probably belonged to a Pictish chief.

The brooch's sub-triangular terminals have central insets of brown glass. Radiating from these insets are pointed oval settings for further glass studs, all of which are now empty. On the hoop is a triple panel with a square setting, also empty.

The St Ninian's Isle hoard contained 12 brooches, most of them silver gilt. They are all characteristically Pictish in form, yet each is individually crafted with differences in design and technique. All were objects worn to display status and wealth.

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