Bronzed Tortoise Shell Brooch

An oval tortoise shell brooch based on Viking and Scandinavian designs from the early medieval period.

It is theorised that oval brooches may have been a sign of marriage, which would explain why they are usually not found in female children's graves. They were worn by the mistress of the house, representing her position of authority on the farm, and so it follows that among the prosperous farmers it would have been married women, or women in a position where they had the same legal position as men (e.g. a widow), that were wearing the oval brooches.

Please note that this is for a single brooch.

Dimensions
Length: 6 cm
Width: 4 cm
Material: Alloy with bronze colour