Brooch

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This brass oval brooch was found on Tiree in the Inner Hebrides with a pin and perhaps the pair to this brooch, apparently from a woman's grave. The burial dates from between 850 and 950.

Like many oval brooches of the period, this example was made from two shells. The outer openwork shell fit over the inner one, and was attached with silver wires, some still preserved. Four of the raised knobs are missing.

Many oval brooches have small wires, usually of silver, which were used to fasten the openwork shells. Grooves were made on the outside, along which the twisted wires were laid, to give a decorative effect.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-043-755-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.IL 219
• Date: 10th century
  Between 850 and 950
  
• Material: Oval; bowl-shaped
  
• Dimensions: 4.50" x 2.75" x 1.50"
  
• What:
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Argyll, Tiree
  
• Event:
• Description: Oval brooch with textile remains on the reverse, from Tiree, 10th century
  
• References:
  • Graham-Campbell, James and Batey, Colleen E. Vikings in Scotland. An Archaeological Survey. Edinburgh: University Press, 1998, p 87. 
  • Grieg, Sigurd. Viking Antiquities in Scotland (=Viking Antiquities in Great Britain and Ireland, Part II, ed. by Haakon Shetelig). Oslo: H. Aschehoug & Co., 1940, p 63. 
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