Antique Brooches – A Rare Medieval Brooch Goes on Display at the Museum of Somerset
A rare early medieval brooch will go on display at a museum close to where it was found by a metal detectorist. The Cheddar Brooch dates from AD800 to 900 and was discovered by Iain Sansome in a field near the village of Cheddar. He reported it through the Treasure Act and it was later acquired by the Museum of Somerset.
The Cheddar Brooch
A rare early Medieval brooch that lay hidden for centuries is now ready to go on display. The Cheddar Brooch is a large silver and copper alloy disc brooch that dates to 800 to 900 AD. It was found by metal detectorist Iain Sansome on farmland near Cheddar in 2020 and reported through the Portable Antiquities Scheme. It is one of only a few of its kind ever to be discovered in the UK and is believed to have belonged to someone with considerable wealth and status.
The brooch features interlaced animal and plant designs in bright silver and black niello, which is usually made from a mixture of sulphur, copper, silver and lead. The animals depicted include wyverns, dragon-like creatures that would later become the emblem of Wessex. Conservation has transformed this fascinating brooch and uncovered details, including fine scratches on its reverse side that may have been used by the maker to map out the design.
A Roman Bronze Plate Brooch
A bronze penannular brooch of round section which tapers down to scrolled back terminals, half the body decorated with incised lines. Fowler Type A3. Circa 1st century AD. Found in the Ancaster area. With attractive patina, complete with working pin.
A tinned bronze openwork plate brooch using the pure Celtic trumpet motif design, the domed centre decorated with triangular cells which may have originally contained coloured enamel. 2nd century AD. Ex Cambridge collection, acquired 1990s-2000s. Condition: Good with some loss of enamel to cells, missing catch plate hook.
A slender continental bronze brooch of the long slender Schusselfibel (spoon-shaped) form, dated late first to early second century A.D. Loosely based on the La Te’ne III type. See Hattatt no 747. Circa 66 mm high. Ex Harold Whitaker Collection. With traverse crack on bow, patchy green patina, missing catch plate hook, and pin preserved but bent. Previously in the collection of the late lawyer and collector Seward Kennedy (1925-2015) who gathered a veritable cabinet of curiosities over the course of six decades, largely comprising prehistoric antique brooches uk and other objects from diverse cultures.
A Plaid Brooch
Thistles are a symbol of Scotland and this brooch features them around the edge of the pin. It’s a beautiful way to add the finishing touch to your fly plaid or kilt outfit. Legend has it that a thistle once saved King David I of Scotland from an attacking stag, so the thistle is a meaningful and appropriate design for a Scottish brooch.
This circular brooch is cast from high quality lead free pewter and is a stunning addition to your kilt accessories. It comes in a black presentation box and would be a wonderful gift for someone special.
Plaid brooches fasten your Shoulder Plaid, ensuring that it stays securely in place. They come in a variety of styles and often feature Gemstones for added appeal. With its elegant Interlacing Knot design and mounted Gemstone, this Celtic feel brooch is sure to add a touch of class to your kilt outfit. The centre of the design is open, so that your tartan can show through.
A Scottish Fly Plaid Brooch
This Scottish Fly Plaid Brooch is a stylish way to keep your kilt’s fly plaid secure. It features a traditional symbol of Scotland, the stag, in gleaming silver alloy and a wreath of thistles. Thistles are the national flower of Scotland, and their intricate interlace patterns symbolize a Celtic legacy that dates back to the illuminated manuscripts of Lindisfarne Gospels and the Book of Kells.
A kilt fly plaid is a square of lightweight Reiver tartan fabric that is draped over a man’s shoulder and secured with a kilt pin. It is traditionally worn with a Prince Charlie jacket for special occasions in Scotland.
The plaid pin is a striking finishing touch to your outfit, and it helps you to make a statement about your heritage and your connections with Scotland’s rich tradition. Kilt Master offers a wide selection of kilt plaid brooches that combine elegance with functionality, and all our brooches are crafted with precision and attention to detail.
