BROOCH

An incomplete cast copper alloy rosette variant brooch of Roman date (AD 43 - AD 70). Length if straightened 37.0mm, width across wings 12.6mm, maximum diameter of bow 12.2mm. Weight 2.21g. Most of the axis bar, part of the curled over head (cylindrical tube), the pin and part of the catch-plate are missing. The head is curled over rearwards,forming a cylindrical tube to accommodate the axis bar. The axis bar appears to have been made of iron as the surviving part of the tube is filled with iron corrosion. At the centre of the head is a V-shaped groove which enabled the pin to rotate freely. Below the tube, the top of the bow has parallel sides and this part is about 5.0mm in length and 4.0mm in width. At the front it is decorated at each edge with minor oblique grooves. The main part of the bow is sub-circular in plan having a diameter of about 12.2mm. At the centre is a circular depression, about 1.5mm in diameter. Around the depression there is a barely visible, finely inscribed concentric groove which has a diameter of about 4.0mm. The depression does not penetrate the plate so it may have contained a decorative material rather than having accomodated a riveted decorative boss. The flaring lower part of the bow is damaged and bent forwards. Where it joins the circular part of the bow the width is about 6.0 and close to the bottom it would have had a maximum width of about 9.5mm. The left side of the bottom part is broken and missing. The front of this flaring lower part is decorated with a plain narrow longitudinal groove close to each edge. A wider and slightly flaring groove is situated along the longitudinal centre-line. This central groove has moulded zigzag work throughout its length. Each of the three grooves contains a dark grey material which is probably decayed niello, tin or silver. The rear face is plain and the surviving part of the catch-plate is D-shaped when viewed from the side. Despite being damaged and incomplete, the piece is in fair condition and is largely covered with mid green patina. A close analogy has not been found. However this brooch can probably be classified as a rosette variant, although not a "keyhole" type. A discussion on the origins, development and typology of rosette brooches is provided by Hattatt 1987, 47-51.