School/Style: Urnes style
Cultural Background/Time Period: Late Viking Period (11th century, late); Late Anglo-Saxon
Origin/Discovery Location: Europe, British Isles, England, Somerset (Pitney)
Materials Used: Copper alloy, gold
Description: This is a copper alloy disc brooch crafted in the Urnes style and adorned with gilding. On the convex surface of this circular brooch, enclosed within a serrated border, is an openwork depiction of a ribbon-curled animal engaged in a battle with a snake.
The creature depicted on the brooch has distinct features, including a pronounced ribbon-shaped eye and an S-shaped projection on its upper jaw. Another projection extends from its neck. This creature appears to be biting its own body, which is composed of both simple and beaded bands, forming a heart-shaped loop. It has spiral-shaped hips, with a sharply curved front paw that ends in a three-toed foot. The hind paw divides into two antennae, with the longer one intertwining with the body and terminating in a leaf-shaped trefoil.
The snake in the depiction has two prominent eyes and, when viewed from above, bisects the animal's neck. Its slender body has one tendril branch, which is intertwined with the animal's body and ends in two twisted tendrils.
On the reverse side of the brooch, there is also gilding, and it retains remnants of a loop and a latch for a pin, although the pin itself has been lost over time. This brooch showcases the intricate craftsmanship of the Urnes style and reflects the artistic influences of both the Late Viking Period and the Late Anglo-Saxon era in the late 11th century.