Round Box Brooch

Unknown

1000–1100 · Copper alloy, cast, selectively applied silver foil (OA XRD) ... · Medieval Art

Women on the Scandinavian island of Gotland wore box brooches to secure their shawls at the collarbone; the brooches doubled as a container to hold small objects. This example is decorated with tiny beasts, which inhabit the interlace patterns on the top and sides. Viking art generally eschews figural decoration in favor of lively patterns based on stylized animals.

Artist

Unknown

Date

1000–1100

Medium

Copper alloy, cast, selectively applied silver foil (OA XRD) ...

Culture

Viking

Department

Medieval Art

Credit line

Purchase, Fletcher Fund, and Bequest of Gwynne M. Andrews, by exchange, 1982