A copper-alloy trefoil brooch in West Barkwith, Lincoolnshire. (c) Leicestershire County Council, CC BY-SA 4.0
A copper-alloy trefoil brooch in West Barkwith, Lincoolnshire. (c) Leicestershire County Council, CC BY-SA 4.0

Trefoil Brooch (LEIC-A43E83)

A copper-alloy trefoil brooch in West Barkwith, Lincoolnshire

Trefoil brooches were characteristically Scandinavian women’s wear. However, many examples found in the East Midlands were probably made in the Danelaw, and may have been copies of Scandinavian styles, instead of being imported from Scandinavia. This example was found near Lincoln.

For more information on Scandinavian jewellery in England check out our blog: Brooches, Pendants and Pins: Scandinavian Dress Accessories in England.

Object Type

Brooch

Date

circa 850 — 950

Ascribed Culture

Original/Reproduction

Original

Material

Collection

Viking Objects

Current Location

Private Ownership

Keywords

brooch, copper_alloy, Danelaw, jewellery, Lincolnshire, Portable_Antiquities_Scheme, trefoil, women

Further information

You can see the original at Private Ownership.

Acknowledgements

(c) Leicestershire County Council, CC BY-SA 4.0

References

Portable Antiquities Scheme

Brooches, Pendants and Pins: Scandinavian Dress Accessories in England.

Kershaw, Jane F. Viking identities: Scandinavian jewellery in England. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013), p. 20-25.

Related items

Drawing of a Trefoil Brooch
Reproduction Trefoil Brooch

More items

Cast Lead Weight (SWYOR-A48576)
Northumbrian Styca (LEIC-0D9D6F)
Anglo-Scandinavian Mount (NLM-491EBD)
Trefoil Brooch (LEIC-33DBDC)
Anglo-Scandinavian Strap-End (LEIC-6EDB41)
Borre Style Brooch (DENO-805B20)
Zoomorphic Mount (DENO-7E523C)
Buckle Frame (DENO-98937A)
Enamel Copper-Alloy Brooch (DENO-6C0D22)
Anglo-Scandinavian Silver Mount (SWYOR-0201A1)
Globe-Shaped Weight (PUBLIC-D94974)