BROOCH

An incomplete copper alloy enamelled Roman trumpet brooch of Hull Type 157C. It has a slightly flattened trumpet-shaped head with an integral double pierced lug to the reverse and a small knop extending from the top to support a separate headloop. The outer face of the head has enamelled curvilinear decoration consisting of two triangular recessed sections filled with dark green enamel, with a curving semi-circular recess in the centre of each containing bright blue enamel and a small triangular recess containing light yellow enamel at each end. At the top of the head, behind this decoration, is a deep transverse groove. The upper bow is strongly curved in profile and the centre of the outer face is decorated with an acanthus moulding, flanked on each side by three raised transverse collars. The reverse of the head and bow is undecorated. The lower bow is straight and tapers to a knob-shaped foot. Its outer face is decorated with foliate mouldings that are now corroded and difficult to see. To the rear is a damaged sub-triangular catch plate. The pin is now detached from the rest of the brooch and only the spring head and part of the stem survives. It survives in fair condition with most of the enamel still in place, but the surface of the metal is corroded and the brooch is slightly bent of shape in profile.

This form, with moulding on the outer face only, belongs to Bayley and Butcher's (2004, 163-4) group D, which appear to have a long chronology (c.AD 75-250) and a relatively widespread distribution.

Length: 52.20mm, width: 15.05mm, thickness at head: 9.53mm, thickness at foot: 11.05mm, total weight: 15.88g