9th-10th century AD. A bronze brooch and pendant assemblage comprising: two elliptical bronze tortoise brooches, each domed with raised ornament, wide flange, pin to the reverse; from the lower edge of each brooch a tubular spacer, threaded with leather, suspension hoops to both sides, from which hang two small seed-shaped pendants; to one side an additional chain of double-links joining a bronze equal-arm brooch with two trapezoidal arms, each with raised Borre-Style geometric ornament, masks to the ends and central domed panel, catch, lug and pin to the reverse, pierced lug to accept the chain; below each tubular spacer, a spacer of quatrefoil shape, with two lobes filled with concentric bands, the upper as a suspension loop and the lower with three more suspension loops, from which hang further pendants; from two, a chain connecting the two matching spacers, one shorter and smaller; from the left spacer, two chains of 8-shaped links, one with openwork bird-shaped pendant, one with hollow tubular pendant, from the right spacer a chain of 8-shaped links with a firesteel, formed with an iron curved bit and openwork design of two addorsed horses, suspension loop to the top. See MacGregor, A. et al. A Summary Catalogue of the Continental Archaeological Collections, Oxford, 1997, item 4 for oval brooches; cf. Ewing, T. Viking Clothing, Stroud, 2007. 476 grams, 90cm (35 1/2"). Property of a professional collector; acquired before 1990. Women's display jewellery in the Viking age comprised both utilitarian and symbolic items. The brooches were worn high on the chest, supporting an apron-type overdress (hangerok) with the beads and chains strung between them and various small items attached. The pendants probably symbolised the authority of the female in the domestic sphere (key, coin, spindle whorl),and in husbandry (model animal, crotal bells, model knife"). Very fine condition; professionally cleaned and conserved.