Rights Holder: Colchester and Ipswich Museum Service
CC License:
Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).
Unique ID: ESS-A1A292
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published
An almost complete, copper alloy Colchester-derivative (double-pierced lug) brooch dating to the Roman period (43-100 AD). The brooch is a Colchester two-piece type with sprung pin, consisting of head, spring, bow and catchplate. The head has semi circular sectioned wings, concave at the back to accomodate the spring with moulded decoration on the front forming vertical ridges. At the centre of the head is a double pierced lug, the upper hole now filled with corrosion. The lower piercing accomodates a copper alloy cross bar around which the spring is wound. The spring consists of a copper alloy wire wound four times around the cross bar on either side of the lug. The springs would have been linked through the upper lug, but this is now loss due to breaks. The pin is now missing and would have been formed from the wire continuing vertically down to the catchplate from the spring mechanism.
The bow curves gently from the head. The centre of the bow has a ridge running the entire length with a smaller more prominent ridge on top towards the head. This has a notch in the width before expanding to form the upper perforation of the spring lug. The bow has a flat back and tapers gradually in width from the head to the foot.
The catchplate forms a trapezoidal shape on the back and centre of the bow, with an open triangular gap in the centre. The outer edge is curled over to produce a rest for the pin and the upper edge of the projecting side is ridged to emphasis the shape.
The brooch has a pale green patination, whilst the spring has a darker green colour. It measures 32.4 mm long, 19.6 mm wide at the wings, 5.2 mm at the bow and 12.3 mm thick. It weighs 7.18 grams.
Bailey and Butcher (2004; 84), illustrates a similar example, no. 167.
Class: Colchester-derivative (double-pierced lug)
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: ROMAN
Period from: ROMAN
Period to: ROMAN
Date from: Circa AD 43
Date to: Circa AD 100
Quantity: 1
Length: 32.4 mm
Width: 19.6 mm
Thickness: 12.3 mm
Weight: 7.18 g
Date(s) of discovery: Sunday 29th September 2013
This information is restricted for your access level.
Other reference: CIMS OEF 7517
4 Figure: TL0265
Four figure Latitude: 52.27370026
Four figure longitude: -0.50650257
1:25K map: TL0265
1:10K map: TL06NW
Grid reference source: Centred on field
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
No references cited so far.