BROOCH

Cast copper alloy headstud Roman brooch dating from c.75-175 AD.

It is complete and in good condition. It is a hinged type.

The headloop is made from copper alloy wire which loops into the wings and acts as the axis bar on which the pin is attached. At the base of the loop is a rectangular attachment through which the loop runs. At the front it is decorated with a line of vertical grooves along the middle.

The wings are square ended and are decorated on the front with inlaid enamel. This takes the form of two triangles on each side, facing out from the centre of the bow, the left side is black, the right is blue. The headstud is a separate piece and is attached by a stud through the thickness of the bow. It is decorated with cast decoration consisting of a central raised circle with a flower motif constructed with a central raised dot and the petals represented by a ring of raised dots around the edge.

The bow has a central raised ridge running its entire length and it narrows slightly towards the foot. The foot has moulded decoration above it consisting of three raised horizontal lines close together at the base of the bow and then two larger horizontal lines on the foot itself. The foot has a rounded base similar to the headstud.

The catchplate starts just below the headstud and is narrow. It is complete with the turn over still intact. The pin is also complete and still moves on the axis bar.