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Iron Age enamelled copper alloy harness fitting (toggle or cheek-piece), probably of 1st century AD date
The toggle is near-complete, with slight peripheral damage and some surface loss (with an overall length of 115.9mm and a weight of 100.7g). The circular disc terminals are expanded (with a diameter of 15.7mm and a thickness of 4.5mm). The side of the terminal is enhanced with a central rib (1.5mm wide) and there is no enamelled inlay on the terminals. The arms are of circular section and concave across their length, expanding to the terminal and to the mid-section (with a minimum diameter of 10.8mm). The mid-section is gently rounded and is convex across its length and width (with a length of 21.4mm and a thickness of 18.8mm). The central opening is sub-rectangular (with a length of 27.0mm and a width of 7.8mm). The opening is both wider and longer on the interior. One side of the toggle is decorated with inlaid red enamel in La Tène style. The motif is enhanced throughout with a delicate incised border. The inlaid decoration comprises a symmetrical curvilinear design. At the centre the cells are near-linear at the top and bottom and curve on the interior on both sides, before a double concave arc defines a point. The enamelled cell narrows again near the side before widening into an oval terminal. The pointed arc meets the oval on the central axis. The arms are decorated with symmetrical cells comprising convex curved ends before narrowing with concave sides. The device on one side narrows to such a degree that it becomes too thin to inlay with enamel.
The surface has a brown-green patina with some areas of pale green surface loss. The red enamel is mostly somewhat dulled but patches of damage reveal the original vibrant red.

Enamelled cheekpieces are known from the Polden Hill hoard (Brailsford 1975, p 230, fig. 6, plate XXI) , containing two examples, from Wooden Eckford, Roxburghshire (Macgregor 1976, no. 45) and elsewhere. Jope (2000, pp 313) states that 30 cheekpieces made of Bronze, iron, bone and antler have been recorded widely distributed across Britain. PAS have recorded a further example from Wonston in Hampshire (HAMP792) with incised decoration. A red enamelled cheekpiece has been recorded from Maescar, Powys (TAR; Gwilt, 2008, p 223, no 1225) . The closest parallel to this example was recovered from Cockshutt in Shropshire and recorded with PAS . The Shropshire example does not have disc terminals and the inlaid design varies slightly. This find represents only the second know toggle recovered from Wales and with the Maescar and Cockshutt example may be starting to show a Mid-Wales and West Midlands grouping.

• Macgregor, M., 1976. Early Celtic art in North Britain: a study of decorative metalwork from the third century B.C. to the third century A.D. Leicester : Leicester University Press I-II, ppno. 45.
• Jope, E.M, 2000. Early Celtic Art in the British Isles Clarendon : Oxford University Press, pppp 313.
• JW Brailsford, 1975 The Polden Hill Hoard, Somerset, 41, pp..

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Created: Thursday 17th March 2011
Updated: Thursday 17th March 2011