Anglo-Saxon Gilt Chip-Carved Pin Head with Floral Cross
Circa 9th century A.D. A large gilt copper-alloy pin head of discoid form, displaying a central knop and stylised chip-carved flower head cross with scrolling volutes to the head of each of four petals and tendrils between; perforated lug to the apex; later secondary piercing beside the rim and ferrous rivet. See Hinton, D.A., Gold and Gilt, Pots and Pins, Oxford, 2006, plate D, for similar. 9.41 grams, 46 mm (1 3/4 in.). Found UK.Acquired in the 1990s.From a North Yorkshire private collection, UK. The item began as one of a set of pin-heads for the headdress of a high-status female. Subsequently the edge was pierced in two places and a rivet passed through one hole - if the other hole also accepted a rivet it has been lost. The floral decoration terminates in narrow triangular vine-leaf motifs which appear elsewhere in Trewhiddle Style art.