Found in the mud, a medieval marvel
CAKED in mud, it looked like an old bottle top to metal detectorist Justin Owens.
But his find turned out to be a priceless medieval brooch that is now taking a prime spot in the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.
The treasure features a large red spinel – a semi-precious gemstone – at its centre amid layers of white enamel and gold. It was also decorated with diamonds and pearls, some of which are missing.
It may have been lost during a hunt 600 years ago. Mr Owens found it on a former aristocratic hunting ground near Brigstock in Northamptonshire. He said: ‘It was absolutely caked in mud. I didn’t have high hopes, thinking it might be an old bottle top or something. Now I’ve seen it cleaned up by the V&A, I can’t believe how exquisite it is.’ The V&A would not reveal how much it paid for the brooch.