Penannular brooch of silver gilt

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This silver gilt 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.

Each terminal has three projecting lobes and an elongated field where the terminal meets the hoop. The brooch was originally embellished with ten studs, all of which are now empty.

The St Ninian's Isle hoard contained 12 brooches, most of them silver gilt. They are all characteristically Pictish in form, yet each is individually crafted with differences in design and technique. All were objects worn to display status and wealth.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-036-441-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.FC 292
• Date: 8th century
  Buried between 750 and 825
  
• Material: Silver gilt; terminals with three small lobes with scroll bordered insets and a large interlaced lobe round disc; hoop panel with ring round inset, interlaced lobes; milled band along hoop edges; inset interlace panels on head of pin
  Brooch, penannular
  
• Dimensions:
• What: Brooch, penannular
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Shetland, St Ninian's Isle
  
• Event:
• Description: Penannular brooch of silver-gilt with beading and interlace, formerly containing ten studs, 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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