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Handpin of silver and enamel

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found at Norrie's Law, near Largo, Fife

Handpin of silver and enamel
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This silver handpin with red enamel ornament 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 the background to fine spiral decoration on the front of the pinhead's palm and to a cross on the centre finger. The edge has an engraved herringbone decoration. On the reverse is a Pictish 'Z-rod' symbol.

Handpins were used as dress fasteners, although some examples, as this pin, were clearly high class and expensive jewellery. Handpins of this type are found in both Scotland and Ireland. The use of a Pictish symbol suggests a Scottish origin for this one.

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