Summary

Handpin of silver, with head enamelled red with spiral design, from the Pictish hoard at Gaulcross, Banffshire, 500 - 700 AD

Accession Number

IL.2011.1.2

Other references

Original description

[One of] Silver objects from Gaul cross, Banffs. - Hand-pin, head enamelled red with spiral [illeg] design. length 5.6 - tip broken and stem damaged. See Stuart, Sculptured Stones of Scotland I pl. 9 and p. 75. Note, 08/11/1996: The preferred form of this placename is Gaulcross rather than Gaul Cross. Add to the descrp and replace the current form in plctrm. Updated from SCRAN full data set, December 1998. [MoS description] Early People. Expressions of power. (12) Silver pin, Gaulcross. 500 - 700 AD. [Scran caption] This silver handpin with enamel decoration was found in a hoard of Pictish jewellery buried at Gaulcross in Banffshire. It was buried between 500 and 700. The pinhead has a semi-circular palm, decorated with three hair-spring spirals. Three fingers project forward above the palm of the pinhead. An engraved herringbone decoration and line of beading runs around the edge of the pinhead. Date: Between 500 and 700. Material: Silver, enamel. Dimensions: Length: 14.3 cm.

Associated person/people (e.g. excavator/former collection)

None

Discovery / field collection

Date of discovery

Not recorded

Method (e.g. excavation)

Not recorded

Place (i.e. location of discovery)

Gaulcross, Banffshire, Scotland, Northern Europe

Acquisition

Acquisition date

1962-10-05

Acquisition source (i.e. name of donor)

Aberdeenshire Council Education, Learning and Leisure, Aberdeenshire Heritage

Acquisition source role (e.g. donor)

LENDER

Image