Breadalbane Brooch
- Gallery: Room 41
- Culture: Celtic; Pictish
- Date: 8thC
- Object type: pseudo-penannular brooch
- Materials: glass; silver
- Museum number: 1919,1218.1
- Museum: The British Museum
- Collection record: British Museum website
- Image © The Trustees of the British Museum, shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence.
Listen to the free audio guide
About this object
Before you is the Breadalbane Brooch, a stunning example of early medieval Celtic craftsmanship. This silver-gilt, D-shaped brooch once shimmered with detailed decoration, including raised borders and intricate geometric interlace. Notice the profile bird heads along the hoop's edge and the profile animal heads on the terminals, each framed with delicate filigree and gold granules.
Rich textures and careful inlays—like green glass cabochons and textured surfaces—suggest a deep appreciation for ornamental detail. The brooch's central panels feature gold foil framed with fine gold wire, reflecting advanced working techniques.
This piece reflects a fusion of styles, including Pictish and Irish influences, and belongs to a rare group of annular brooches. Originally from Scotland, it likely dates to the eighth century. The brooch was donated by Sir John Ramsden, preserving a window into the artistry of early medieval Celtic metalwork.
See it in person
Breadalbane Brooch is on display in Room 41 at the British Museum on Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London — free to enter. Choose British Museum on audioguide.london and take a photo of it to hear this free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
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