BROOCH

An incomplete cast copper alloy Trumpet brooch of Roman date. The reverse of the head is concave to accommodate the spring mechanism which is comprised of an internal chord with five turns of the spring, one end of which forms form the pointed pin. The mechanism is held in place by a single central lug through which is an axis bar which forms an attachment loop with a rectangular collar.
The head itself is trumpet shaped and decorated with a circumferential incised border. From the head the upper bow extends into a circumferential collar below which is an elaborate acanthus decoration followed by a second circumferential collar. Extending down from the lower collar is a triangular sectioned lower bow which terminates in a worn break. The worn remains of the catchplate project from the reverse of the lower bow.
The metal has a dark brownish-green patina and is worn. The brooch is 48.6mm long, 20mm wide, 6.9mm thick and weighs 16.7g.
Similar examples are illustrated in Hattatt, p.326, fig.185 and are dated to circa 75 - 175 AD.