Brooch

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This large silver brooch was found at Skaill at Sandwick in Orkney, and is part of the largest Viking Age silver hoard found in Scotland. It was clearly meant for ostentatious display of wealth and status. The hoard was buried between 950 and 970.

The pinhead and the terminals of the hoop are ball-shaped. They have an engraved animal pattern on one side on the front. The inner collar of the left terminal has broken away but otherwise the brooch is complete.

The Skaill hoard contains ten penannular brooches, and fragments of others. Many of the brooches, including this one, have been identified as products of a workshop based in the Irish Sea area, perhaps on the Isle of Man or with a Manx craftsman.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-043-548-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.IL 1
• Date: Deposited between 950 and 970
  
• Material: Silver; large; extremities and head of pin shaped like thistle; engraved pattern on one side
  Brooch, penannular
  
• Dimensions: 5.50" - 8.00" D
  
• What: Brooch, penannular
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Orkney, Sandwick, Skaill
  
• Event:
• Description: Viking silver penannular ring brooch with thistle-shaped extremities and pinhead and an engraved pattern on one side, from Skaill
  
• References:
  • Graham-Campbell, James. The Viking-age gold and silver of Scotland (AD 850-1100). Edinburgh: National Museums of Scotland, 1995, pp. 34-48, 108-9. 
• Translations:
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