Brooch · Early Medieval
Anglo-Saxon cruciform brooch
450–600 CE, Anglo-Saxon
The Anglo-Saxon cruciform brooch is the copper-alloy bow brooch of the fifth and sixth centuries CE worn by Anglian women in eastern England, with a headplate bearing three knobs and a foot ending in a stylised horse head. It derives from Scandinavian and north German forms. It is a classic early Anglo-Saxon cemetery find.
| Object | Brooch |
|---|---|
| Dates | 450–600 CE |
| Period | Early Medieval |
| Cultures | Anglo-Saxon |
| Regions | Europe — Northern & British Isles |
Diagnostic traits
Copper-alloy bow brooch with a headplate bearing three knobs and a foot ending in a stylised horse head.
Identification
The three-knobbed headplate and horse-head foot distinguish it from square-headed and small-long brooches; Åberg and Mortimer groups date them by knob and foot form. Later florid examples are large and gilded. Most are copper alloy with a sprung pin.
Reproductions and fakes
Reproduced for reenactors and sold as ancient; genuine brooches show wear on the bow and catch and a stratified patina. Modern gilding is a warning.
Elsewhere
- Wikidata: Q111692842
Cite this article
Stratum Strata. "Anglo-Saxon cruciform brooch" (Artifact type). Stratum Strata pack 2026.09, as of 2026-09-21. https://stratum.black/strata/types/anglo-saxon-cruciform-brooch. Accessed 2026-09-21.
@misc{stratum-anglo-saxon-cruciform-brooch,
title = {Anglo-Saxon cruciform brooch},
author = {{Stratum Strata}},
howpublished = {\url{https://stratum.black/strata/types/anglo-saxon-cruciform-brooch}},
year = {2026},
note = {Artifact type article, Stratum Strata pack 2026.09, as of 2026-09-21; sources: stratum, wikidata, commons. Accessed 2026-09-21.}
} Citations carry the pack version and the article's as-of date so they resolve to the same text later. The facts themselves belong to the sources listed below; cite those for the science.