Back 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 back of the brooch.

The back of the brooch is set with four silver gilt decorative panels depicting interlaced ribbons and beasts in imitation chip-carved technique. A runic inscription proclaiming ownership was scratched on the hoop in the 10th century.

The inscription carved in Scandinavian runes translates as ''Melbrigda owns this brooch'. On the terminals are graffiti resembling runes. They appear to be deliberate infilling, perhaps to prevent further claims of ownership.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-190-001-169-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, but the runic inscription dates from between 900 and 1000
  
• 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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