Casgliadau Arlein

The head-loop, the cross bar and the head of the bow are all that remain. The cast head loop, with a large circular piercing, is separated from the head of the brooch by a short pedestal of bronze, pinched in at each side in a semi circle. The very long, cylindrical cross bar originally with a vertical moulding at each end is decorated, on the front only, with deeply cut diagonal lines apparently to imitate the appearance of the coils of a spring. The upper part of the bow has three enamelled lengthwise grooves perhaps originally with alternating blocks of colour within each groove. As found the two outer grooves had turquoise enamel, the inner yellow. The treatment of the cross bar seems to confirm Hull's suggestion that the hinged brooch was produced as a cheaper form to suit the purchaser's pocket and to imply that the spring was, in some quarters, the coveted form. The size of the pseudo spring is consistent with the gaudy nature of this class of brooch.