Quoit brooch

The Sarre Brooch in the British Museum
British-made Roman bracelet from the Hoxne hoard with similar animals
Romano-British or Anglo-Saxon belt fittings from the Mucking archaeological site, 5th century
Romano-British or Anglo-Saxon belt fittings from Mucking, 5th century

The quoit brooch is a type of Anglo-Saxon brooch found from the 5th century and later during the Anglo-Saxon settlement of Britain that has given its name to the Quoit Brooch Style to embrace all types of Anglo-Saxon metalwork in the decorative style typical of the finest brooches. The brooches take their modern name from the rings thrown in the game of quoits, and have the form of a broad ring, or circle with an empty centre, usually in bronze or silver (sometimes inlaid with silver or gold respectively), and often highly decorated. The forms are in a very low relief, so contrasting with other early Anglo-Saxon styles, with detail added by shallow engraving or punching within the main shapes. Dots or dashes are often used to represent fur on the animal forms, as well as lines emphasizing parts of the body. They are fixed with a single, straight hinged pin like those of other Anglo-Saxon ring or Celtic brooches and are further defined by the presence of a slot and pin-stops on the ring.[1][2]

  1. ^ Ager 1985
  2. ^ Webster, 52