Rights Holder: Birmingham Museums Trust
CC License:
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Unique ID: WMID-3B4B66
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
A cast copper-alloy Roman headstud brooch of the late first century AD. The brooch is in very good condition and is complete apart from its missing pin. The brooch is hinged and the hinge is secured within a cylindrical housing. This example does not have a loop on the head, but it is possible that there was once a separate loose loop attached to the end of the hinge which is now missing. The wings measure 27.63 mm across. The front of the wings are decorated with lattice cells for enamel, and faint traces of red remain. Where the wings meet the head there is a thin moulded band on each side, decorated with horizontal lines. At the top of the head there is a large crest. Immediately below this is the eponymous headstud which is oval in shape and has a floral design with four petals in relief. Cells in between the petals appear to have once held enamel. The remainder of the front of the bow is intricately decorated with a thick band of lattice cells. Some blue enamel survives in some of the central cells, whilst some red remains in the cells either side of the central column. The brooch has a moulded foot three collars. The underside of the foot is hollow with a central circular projection. A sub-triangular catchplate survives on the reverse of the brooch, although this has seen some damage. The brooch measures 49.66 mm long and 9.59 mm wide (at the head). It weighs 25.8 grams. The brooch is well preserved and has a deep green patina.
Class: headstud
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: ROMAN
Subperiod from: Early
Period from: ROMAN
Period to: ROMAN
Date from: Circa AD 75
Date to: Circa AD 100
Quantity: 1
Length: 49.66 mm
Width: 27.63 mm
Weight: 25.8 g
Date(s) of discovery: Monday 1st February 2010 - Sunday 28th February 2010
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Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Decoration style: Geometric
Completeness: Incomplete
Surface Treatment: Inlaid with enamel
4 Figure: SO7393
Four figure Latitude: 52.534189
Four figure longitude: -2.399471
1:25K map: SO7393
1:10K map: SO79SW
Grid reference source: From a paper map
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
No references cited so far.