The brooch comes from the 7th century Merovingian female burial [tomb F250] that was discovered at the cemetery of Quaregnon, Belgium.
“Multilobed gold fibula, held on a copper alloy core by means of 8 silver rivets. The top is adorned with filigree gold eyes and circled with two chains of twisted gold eyes. Nine glass paste cabochons are mounted in boxes. The 71 garnets that adorn the fibula come from Bohemia.” [Olivier Vrielynck]
Gold, silver, copper alloy, garnet and glass paste
Diameter: 5.6 cm; thickness: 1.3 cm
About the burial
The deceased was buried in a rectangular coffin. Except for the gold multilobe brooch she was adorned with two symmetrical handle fibulas holding a garment on the right side of the body, a necklace and a bracelet made of glass and amber beads. There were found two copper alloy pins also, one at the top of the head of the woman, second one by the right leg.
Dozens of twisted golden threads were discovered around the neck and torso of the deceased, which were probably part of the decoration of her garment. There was a belt with an inlaid buckle, counter plate and braid at the waist. Probably an amber pendant hung from the waist.
- BECOME A MEROVINGIAN FOR A DAY IN SAINT-GERMAIN-EN-LAYE, an article by Eleanor Fournie
https://www.actu-culture.com - CATTELAIN P., BOZET N., DI STAZIO G. (ed.) – 2012. La parure de Cro-Magnon à Clovis https://www.academia.edu
pp. 177-192, Le cimeière mérovingien de Bossut-Gotechain, Olivier Vrielynck