File:Early-Medieval gilt copper-alloy zoomorphic horse brooch. (FindID 799649).jpg

English: An incomplete and worn cast gilt copper-alloy Early Medieval zoomorphic plate brooch in the shape of a horse (also known as a Pferdefibeln), of likely Merovingian Frankish origin or influence, c. mid 5^th - mid 6^th century in date (AD c.475-c.530 ).

The brooch is flat and shaped like a horse with a its legs attached to a linear base. The detail of the horse is picked out in the chip-carve style, consisting of flowing incised lines particularly highlighting the horse's main and tail. The large eye of the head which is the only real detail of the face save for a very small triangular ear, very much resembles that of the bird brooches. White backing paste remains in the eye 'socket' cell indicating a now missing backing foil + garnet or unbacked garnet inlay. This appears to be a relatively recent loss as some of the white backing paste, which is often vulnerable to degradation/damage when exposed, remains in the cell. The spring loop and catchplate arrangement on the undecorated reverse is a standard arrangement seen across the early medieval zoomorphic plate brooches of Northern Europe and the iron spring remains only as rust staining on the back of the brooch.

Some golden coloured gilding remains on the front of the brooch particularly in the recessed lines of the horses body and tail, where the copper-alloy of the horses body is green typical of patinated copper-alloy. On the reverse there is no indication of gilding having ever occurred and there is brown-orangey staining around the tail end by the location of the spring loop.

Measurements: 32mm long, 15mm high and 4.35g in weight