File:Medieval gold brooch (FindID 782795).jpg

English: Medieval gold and enamel brooch, 23mm long, 22mm wide and 2mm thick with a weight of 5.31g. The frame is heart shaped (a tapering pointed base with two curved upper edges) with a flat rectangular cross-section. It has a raised border on its upper side which has been filled with white enamel interspersed by raised star-like motifs in gold. Only about half of the enamel remains. Outside the border of the enamel, the brooch has a flat scalloped outer border. There is a pin constriction in the centre of the upper edge, with a gold pin hinged on it. The pin has two rectangular projections at its top end and is rectangular in cross-section, tapering to a slight point.

The reverse of the brooch is engraved with repeating flower motifs, one at either side of the pin constriction, and one either side of the pin rest at the pointed end. Each motif consists of a four-petalled flower on a stem with narrow branching leaves. In between these is an inscription in three words in black-letter Gothic script which reads honor et ioie (Honour and Joy). Part of the script has traces of white enamel inlay.

The form of the brooch and the Gothic script suggest a 15th-century date. It is similar to a heart-shapped brooch from the Fishpool Hoard, now in the British Museum (1967,1208.8), which is dated to the first half of the 15^th century.

The inscription 'honnour et joye' is found in black-letter on the interior of the hoop of a gold iconographic finger-ring (1871,0303.2) in the collection of the British Museum, and according to that record, on the ring in the tomb of Archbishop Bower of York, who died in 1423.