Antique jewelry glossary

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Shoulder clasps

Hinged clasps (in pairs) presumably designed to a clasp a thick leather or fabric garment at the shoulders. A pair, in Anglo-Saxon jewelry, early 7th century, found in the Sutton Hoo Treasure, are of gold, each consisting of two curved halves fastened by a gold pin attached by a chain. The decoration consists of cloisonné inlay set with garnets and millefiori glass in panelled designs bordered by zoomorphic interlacing mock-champlevé patterns. On the reverse are staples for sewing it to a garment.

From: An Illustrated Dictionary of Jewelry, autor: Harold Newman, publishers: Thames and Hudson