Rights Holder: Suffolk County Council
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Unique ID: SF-731AF5
Object type certainty: Certain
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status: Published
A copper-alloy Roman zoomorphic plate brooch in the form of a sitting hen or cockerel. It has suffered from some post-depositional damage resulting in the brooch being partially flattened and split at the catchplate end, but it is otherwise largely intact. The plate is oval in form, conical with a hollow back face and domed front face. From the pointed end of the plate projects a flat curved or crescentic tail that terminates in a relatively sharp point and at the underside of which is a small integral semi-circular chain loop with circular aperture. The opposite end of the plate is conical and forms the neck of the bird, tapering to a flattened rectangular head. This is decorated with circular eyes that are formed from a central dot with central field of blue enamel, surrounded by a ring of red enamel. At the top of the head is a projecting crest, at the base is a jowl with inlaid red enamel, and from the front of the head extends a pointed beak. The body of the bird has the remains of symmetrical enamelled decoration. This comprises a row of crescent shaped motifs with alternating blue and red enamel running around both sides of the base of the plate. At the centre of the plate/bird is a vertical rib running from neck to tail, either side of which are two ovals or leaf-shaped motifs containing yellow enamel running diagonally from the centre to top or bottom edges, all within a recessed field of red enamel. This gives the impression of a quatrefoil or floral motif on the back of the bird. A single groove is visible at the base of the plate below the head. On the back face of the plate, at the tail end, is an integrally cast double pin lug that holds in place a separately cast copper-alloy pin that is oval sectioned and tapers to a sharp point. The catchplate at the head end of the plate is missing due to old breaks. The entire brooch measures 46.02mm in length, 12.34mm in width (partially flattened), 26.75mm in height, and weighs 11.21g.
Similar hen or cockerel shaped zoomorphic Roman brooches are noted by Hattatt (1989: nos. 167, 620) and from Roman Colchester (Crummy, 1983: nos. 75-76). These indicate a 2nd century AD date for the brooch.
Class: Zoomorphic (sitting hen or cockerel)
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: ROMAN
Period from: ROMAN
Period to: ROMAN
Date from: Circa AD 100
Date to: Circa AD 200
Quantity: 1
Length: 46.02 mm
Height: 26.75 mm
Width: 12.34 mm
Weight: 11.21 g
Date(s) of discovery: Monday 1st July 2013
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Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Incomplete
Surface Treatment: Inlaid with enamel
Grid reference source: Generated from computer mapping software
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.
No references cited so far.