Early Silver Zoomorphic Penannular Brooch of the Initial Form - Lr/331

Early silver zoomorphic penannular brooch in the style of the initial form. The brooch is in the form of a flat ribbon with block terminals, plain to one side but with 5 half moon punches to the top and with a punch decoration to the other, the rim has evidence of a ribbed pattern in the form of 2 vertical ribs and 2 at 45 degrees, over 4mm, repeated for most of the rim but heavily worn or worn away in part. The terminals are block form and are hammered from the original bar, not applied with solder, they are punch marked to one side and have been ribbed. The pin is 7 cm long and hammered from a bar the hinge is formed with the end flattened and teased to a tail, this has been bent over with the tail twisted around the pin to secure, the hinge top is decorated with line and ball. The brooch is a substantially made item of silver jewellery and has been hammered rather than cast but there is extensive wear to the decoration of the brooch as a whole. Age is difficult to say. You must bear in mind that I have no provenance for this brooch and unless you wish to go really scientific, provenance is essential for proving age and it may, very well be a Victorian copy. Further reading for interest is "Zoomorphic Penannular Brooches". by Howard Kilbride Jones. **Please ignore the origin and period fields below, I have to put something in them**