Canterbury Pendant
Archaeology
CANCM:1982.14.23 - Circular gold pendant inlaid with cloisonné garnets
decorated with filigree wires, surmounted with
barrel shaped suspension
loop.
Found Cranmer House, Canterbury, Kent, by Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 1982.
Pendants of various kinds emerged in the 7th century as a native adaption of Byzantine fashion. They quickly took over from brooches as the main form of female jewellery. This version is one of the very best types and has an expressly Christian motif of the cross. It can be dated to the first third of the 7th century, probably around the 620s, as it is similar to brooches made at that time.
It is made from gold sheet worked into cells set with polished garnets backed with a gold foil. Decorated with filigree wires. The shape of a cross in the centre, now missing its white inlay, was probably intended as a Christian symbol. The pendant is topped by a barrel shaped suspension loop.
Such finely crafted jewellery would have been made for a wealthy or noble lady. It was probably buried decades after being made as there is evidence of wear and alteration to the pendant. This shows that it was a cherished piece, much used before being buried with its owner perhaps about AD 650.
When dug up the central boss was detached from the backplate. It was found about half a kilometre West of Canterbury City Walls at Cranmer House, formerly Westgate Court farm in 1982. It was found in what may have been a grave that was robbed in antiquity, but there were no traces of a body. This possibly shows a Saxon re-use of an old Roman cemetery on the site. A coin found near the graves dates the site to c700AD.
All images © Canterbury City Museums.
Canterbury City Museums
Canterbury City Museums
600-700
Bird brooch
Art history
CANCM:7523 - Bird brooch, silver gilt, garnet inset in eye and tail;
niello inlay. (Accessions register states: "Objects
from this grave
disturbed before excavation and recorded from spoil
heap by Mr. Jarvis and
his wife").
Found Bekesbourne,
Kent by Mr. F. Jenkins, in grave 30 of the Anglo-Saxon cemetery.
Acquired from Mr. P.G. Wilson, (Boundary Cottage, Bekesbourne).
All images © Canterbury City Museums.
Canterbury City Museums
Canterbury City Museums
Square-headed brooch
Archaeology
CANCM:7494 - Square-headed silver-gilt brooch; undivided foot, motif decorating footplate; rampant animals either side of the foot reaching up to
the bow; (Accessions register states: "Almost exact
parallel from Howletts - see P.S.A. 2nd series XXX p.104, pl.1, 2. Nils Aberg - p.80, fig.132. Shaw ... Eastrial, p.3, fig.7 & "These items seem to be on loan. See "Archaeology Register" 58/10, where they are also
listed, and Loan Book, 1958/1. ... Items 7494-7511"). Found Eastry, Kent. Acquisition source Mr. Irby(Mersham) per Dr. W.G. Urry.
All images © Canterbury City Museums.
Canterbury City Museums
Canterbury City Museums
Canterbury Cross
Archaeology
CANCM:6421 - Canterbury Cross; copper alloy and silver cruciform brooch. Found St. George's Street, Canterbury, during laying of drainage in 1867. Dated to c.850. Acquired from Dr. H. Wacher.
All images © Canterbury City Museums.
Canterbury City Museums
Canterbury City Museums
850
Bead/Pendant
Archaeology
Ashmolean Museum inventory no. AN1909.517. c. 550-650. Gold, garnet, glass. Pendant, elongated decahedron, decorated with beaded gold wire, cloisonné work and inlaid with blue glass and garnet. Discovered Forest Gate, Essex.
Ashmolean Museum
550-650
Brooch
Archaeology
Ashmolean Museum inventory no. AN1909.196. Gold, silver, garnet. 6th century gilt disc brooch with cloisonné work and inlaid garnets. Discovered Faversham, Kent.
Ashmolean Museum
6th century
Brooch
Archaeology
Ashmolean Museum inventory no. AN1972.1401. Gold, garnet, glass, shell. 7th century cloisonné work disc brooch, inlaid with garnets, white shell and coloured glass, and divided into four circular panels (only one of which is intact) around a central roundel with triangular protrusions and a central inlaid gem. The remaining panels consist of irregular zoomorphic filigree designs. Discovered Monkton, Kent.
Ashmolean Museum
Ashmolean Museum
Early 7th century
Pendant
Archaeology
Ashmolean Museum inventory no. AN1909.207. Gold, garnet. c.550-650. Circular pendant inlaid with garnets and decorated with panels of gold filigree. The disc is divided into panels by the application of beaded wire in a concentric cross shape, at the centre of which is a gold roundel (with missing centrepiece). Discovered Faversham, Kent.
Ashmolean Museum
Ashmolean Museum
Early 7th century
Disc Brooch
Archaeology
Ashmolean Museum inventory no. AN1934.202. 7th century. Gold, garnet and glass. Composite disc brooch, elaborately decorated with cloisonné work and inlaid with garnets and coloured glass. Beaded wire rim and gold filigree scrollwork. Discovered in Sarre, Kent.
Ashmolean Museum
Ashmolean Museum
Early 7th century
Holderness Cross
Archaeology
Ashmolean Museum inventory no. AN1999.206. Gold and garnet. Early 7th century pectoral cross pendant, decorated with cloisonné work inlaid with garnets. Single sheet gold back-plate. Only 58 of the original 95 gems survive. Discovered in the 1960s near Burton Pidsea on the Holderness peninsula, E. Yorkshire.
Ashmolean Museum
Ashmolean Museum
Early 7th century