found on St Ninian's Isle, Dunrossness, Shetland

Penannular brooch of silver gilt

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:	0098: 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
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
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