Bronze mount in the shape of an animal mask

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This bronze mount was found on the Brough of Birsay in Orkney. It was probably part of a Scandinavian type penannular brooch, brought from Scandinavia and worn in Orkney sometime between 875 and 975.

The small mount is in the shape of an animal mask, perhaps a cat's head, with rounded ears and large eyes.

A variety of penannular brooches were worn by men and women to fasten their cloaks during the Viking period in northern Europe. Viking craftsmen adopted the form from Irish or Scottish examples, but used popular Scandinavian motifs such as masks.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-102-570-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.HB 434
• Date: 875 - 975 AD
  Between 875 and 975
  
• Material: Bronze; animal mask; rounded ears and large eyes; secondary incisions
  Mount, brooch
  
• Dimensions: 29 mm x 17 mm
  
• What: Mount, brooch
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Orkney, Brough of Birsay
  
• Event:
• Description: Borre style cat's head mount from a Scandinavian type penannular brooch, from Birsay, Orkney, 875 - 975 AD
  
• References:
  • Curle, C.L. Pictish and Norse finds from the Brough of Birsay, 1973-74. Edinburgh: Society of Antiquaries of Scotland Monograph Series 1, 1982, p 63. 
• Translations:
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