'The Middle Aston' Large Anglo-Saxon Gilt Bronze Saucer Brooch with Bird Motif and Composite Boss. Late 5th-6th century A.D. With a deep flange, chamfered inner ridge and eye-shaped motifs, second chamfered edge with a wide inner band of Style I bird motif decoration surrounding a central rivetted boss, catchplate and pin-lug to verso; signs of an academically interesting ancient rivetted repair to the outer flange; rare. Cf. Hammond, Brett, British Artefacts Volume 1 - Early Anglo-Saxon, 2009, p.55, fig,1.1.6.6-h & i; cf. pair of saucer brooches from Berinsfield in MacGregor, A. & Bolick, E., A Summary Catalogue of the Anglo-Saxon Collections (Non-Ferrous Metals), item 2.43; and Dickinson, T., Early Saxon Saucer Brooches: A Preliminary Overview' Anglo-Saxon Studies in Archaeology and History, 1993, 6 pp.11-44. 36 grams, 59 mm (1 1/2 in.).

Found whilst searching with a metal detector in Middle Aston, Cherwell, Oxfordshire, UK, on Wednesday 1st May 2024. Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no.OXON-B4DF83. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Saucer brooches are a female Saxon fashion, contemporary with the Anglian penannular and cruciform types, normally worn at the shoulders to secure a tubular dress.

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