Penannular
Brooch
Silver, with added gold and enamel
Kilmainham, County Dublin
Eighth Century, CE
Early Medieval, Celtic
16 cm
National Museum of Ireland
Compared with annular brooches which compose a circular head, this penannular brooch is characterized by a semicircular plate ending in terminals. The surface of the brooch is composed of inner and outer rims of sleek silver, which enclose a tract of intricately patterned gold filigree. The surface of the gold exhibits a curvilinear pattern of intertwining loops and swirls. Traces of red enamel remain in the setting in the oval section at the top of the brooch and in the tracts bordering the terminals. At the top of the brooch there is an oval shape of gold with a raised knob of enamel in its center. The terminals are in the shape of quatrefoils and are also composed of gold. Similarly, the pattern on the gold is incised or curvilinear. The pattern reveals circular shapes and loops, possibly rondels or rosettes. Four settings are found in each of the four corners of the terminals, and square settings are found along the tracts of the plate. It can be presumed that these settings once contained red enamel as well.
This penannular brooch of the Early Christian period is characterized by expanded, squared off terminals. The plate of the brooch is semicircular. The pinhead has been broken off and probably originally contained red enamel. Traces of red enamel remain in the setting in the oval section at the top of the brooch and in the tracts bordering the terminals. Four settings are found in each of the four corners of the terminals, and square settings are found along the tracts of the plate. It can be presumed that these settings once contained red enamel as well.
The ring is outlined by double ridges which contain areas of decorative surface. The decoration in these areas include intricately twisted gold wire and spiral filigree which form a figure eight pattern, ending with concentric circles. The interior of the quatrefoil shaped terminals resemble the shape of a Celtic cross. A square is inscribed within the cross shape.
It has been
said that the quatrefoil terminals resemble the opening page of St. Luke’s Gospel
in the Book of Kells.
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