Detail of the Hunterston brooch

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This silver gilt brooch with amber settings was found at Hunterston in Ayrshire. Made around 700, it is one of the finest products of its time. This picture shows the pinhead of the brooch.

The keystone-shaped pinhead moves freely along the hoop. It is decorated with amber mounts and panels of filigree ornaments. The central panel contains an interlaced beast executed in beaded wire and filled with gold granulation.

The decorative patterns on the pinhead deliberately mirror those on the body of the brooch. This feature may indicate further Anglo-Saxon influence, deriving from Anglo-Saxon belt buckles. It is characteristic of 8th and 9th century Irish brooches.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-190-001-174-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.FC 8
• Date: c. 700
  Made around 700
  
• Material: Silver and gold; amber settings; panels of interlaced work; runic inscription on the back. Inscription: Hoop: Melbrigda owns this brooch (Viking runes)
  Brooch
  
• Dimensions:
• What: Brooch
  
• Subject: Personal Ornaments
  
• Who: Melbrigda (Owner)
  Viking
  
• Where: Ireland
  Scotland, Ayrshire, Hunterston
  Scotland, West
  
• Event:
• Description: Hunterston Brooch, an early Christian brooch with panels of gold filigree in Celtic and Anglo-Saxon styles, from Ireland or the West of Scotland, c. 700 AD, and found at Hunterston, Ayrshire in 1830
  
• References:
  • 'MOSAICS' multimedia programme. NMS 1994 
  • Youngs, Susan (ed). 'The Work of Angels'. Masterpieces of Celtic metalwork, 6th-9th centuries AD. London: British Museums Publications Ltd, 1989, pp 91-2. 
• Translations:
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