Penannular brooch of silver gilt

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This silver penannular brooch was found in a hoard containing silver objects and part of a porpoise's jaw, buried on St Ninian's Isle at Dunrossness in Shetland sometime between 750 and 825. The hoard probably belonged to a Pictish chief.

The brooch's terminals each have three lobes and an elongated semicircular field around a disc. The pin is incomplete, lacking its head and loop.

The St Ninian's Isle hoard contained precious metalwork which probably belonged to a Pictish chief. The valuable objects were buried for safekeeping, perhaps at a time of danger such as a Viking raid.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-036-437-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.FC 288
• Date: 8th century
  Buried between 750 and 825
  
• Material: Silver; terminals with four lobes round a disc; tripartite panel on hoop with central inset between knots; corded rib along each edge of hoop; upper half of pin missing
  Brooch, penannular
  
• Dimensions: 2.80" D
  
• What: Brooch, penannular
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Shetland, St Ninian's Isle
  
• Event:
• Description: Penannular brooch of silver with triple-lobed terminals, animal heads and and knots, from St Ninian's Isle, Pictish, 8th century
  
• References:
  • Small, A., Thomas, C., & Wilson, D. M. St. Ninian's Isle and its Treasure. London: Oxford University Press,1973 
• Translations:
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