Early Medieval gold and garnet sword button
Unknown Artist
- Art Funded
- 2012
- Dimensions
- 6.8 mm x 14.3 mm
- Vendor
- Department for Culture, Media and Sport
It is made of gold and cloisonné garnets and reveals an extremely high level of craftsmanship. The artistic style of the button is typical and comparable to contemporary 7th century Anglo-Saxon objects, such as the Ixworth Cross and the Milton brooch. Although small and incomplete, it serves as a particularly complex example of fine gold and garnet working, and is of higher quality than comparable pieces previously found in the UK. Conservation work will be carried out and perhaps reveal its intricate construction.
Provenance
Found by a metal detectorist in Cotgrave, Nottinghamshire on 30 September 2010.