'Jutlandic' great square-headed brooch

Silver-gilt Great Square-headed brooch, length 8cm. Edges of headplate are worn and broken away in two places. Around outer edges at top and sides panels of almost indecipherable animal ornament: at top a pair of couchant animals but impossible now to tell which way they are facing - probably outwards since no heads visible at centre, back-to-back. At sides descending animals, feet visible, heads obliterated. At bottom sides short panels of billeting. Inside again, a rasied band with two rows of cut-out triangles, no doubt once nielloed. Plain band curves around top of bow. Central panel has upside down mask above bow, full-face, with curved brow ridges, nose, eyes, moustache and elliptical mouth. Globules at ends of brows. Flanking mask, degenerate animals with 'helmet' heads, in upper corners, necks curving to hip or shoulder joints in lower corners, curving strand from here to join mask globules. Extra leg and foot with joints touching nose at each side, feet under head. Bow short and steeply sloping to flat top. Around base at upper side a worn panel of billeting. Around top edge a worn circle of what appears to be spiral ornament. Top of bow has circular recess inset with filigree work around an empty cell which was attached by rivet to bow, shank shows at back. Around cell a ring of beaded silver wire, and another around edge of inset. Between beaded wires, S's on sides, 4 in all, made of doubled beaded wire. Probably once gilded. Plain band below bow. At sides are hanging animal heads with straight brow band, nose, eye and un derlining, open mouths. On neck remains of crouching animals, probably descending - only a leg with toed foot, hip arch, and worn shadow of body remains. Inside of neck a raised band with double row of triangles curves down to roundel at foot making lozenge-shaped central panel. Frame of side roundels shows remains of billeting, and inside each three ellipses deeply cut out to leave concave sided triangles in reserve. Lower roundel completely worn with equal armed cross in deep reserve. Under hanging animal' chins a degenerate beak, with open hole at centre. At lower sides sworn shadows of marginal animals climbing upwards. Two legs and feet, arched hip frames, and worn body and neck remain. At centre below bow a full-face mask with billeted and nielloed brow-band, or if upside down mouth, then straight ridge, then round eyes with nose between brow-ridges or eye underlining. Remaining area of lozenge-shaped panel filled up with contour ridges, and central lozenge with upward projection which might be a beard. It has remains of engraved line around deep small central diamond indent.The whole thing fantastically badly worn; nearly all niello lost except under bow, most gilding gone except in deeper parts of field. On back twin attachments on headplate for spring coil and pin, both lost; on foot simple long catchplate set on longitudinal ridge extending down to foot. end.