Saxon & Medieval — Early Medieval; late 13th century
Brooch, ring brooch
This square brooch is silver-gilt, set with garnets. The brooch was broken and repaired in antiquity. The inscription is in French and reads: '+I/O:A/I.E/N.C/LO/S. [?]/RA/NI'. It begins 'I hold enclosed ...' or 'I clasp ...', but the last word is partly obscured by a replacement gem-setting, and has so far defeated interpretation. It may well carry something of the meaning of an inscription on a brooch in the British Museum: 'I am a brooch to guard the breast, that no rascal may put his hand thereon'. French was popular for romantic inscriptions on jewellery as well as being used at the royal court and in trade dealings.
- Category:
- Saxon & Medieval
- Object ID:
- 89.36
- Object name:
- brooch, ring brooch
- Object type:
- Artist/Maker:
- —
- Related people:
- Related events:
- Related places:
- Production date:
- Early Medieval; late 13th century
- Material:
silver, gold, garnet
- Measurements/duration:
- H 42 mm, W 51 mm (overall)
- Part of:
- —
- On display:
- —
- Record quality:
- 100%
- Part of this object:
- —
- Owner Status & Credit:
Permanent collection
Purchased with the aid of the Victoria & Albert Museum/Museums and Galleries Commission Purchase Grant Fund, and the Worshipful Comapny of Goldsmiths.
- Copyright holder:
digital image © London Museum
- Image credit:
- —
- Creative commons usage:
- —
- License this image:
To license this image for commercial use, please contact the London Museum Picture Library.