BROOCH

A copper-alloy zoomorphic plate brooch depicting a lion, dating to the Roman period (2nd century AD). The brooch depicts a side view of the lion advancing right, with the body and two legs visible. The tail protrudes upwards and is fan shaped at the terminal with two vertical latitudinal lines. The back leg is angular and broad, extending to a triangular foot with small incision to portray digits. The head and the mane of the lion dominate the brooch with an open mouth suggestive of a roaring lion. The ear and eye appear worn although the hollow of the ear can be seen. The main and shoulder are decorated with incised parallel lines radiating from the lions head. Below the shoulder the front leg is thinner in comparison to the back and terminates in a rounded foot with small with small incisions at its tip.

The brooch is flat, 3mm thick, and the metal on the reverse has a dark red green patina. The front of the brooch is smooth and silvered with a small patch of metal showing through near the front leg. On the reverse of the brooch are two rectangular projections, one vertical and the other horizontal. These are worn and the pin is missing.

A very similar parallel can be seen in Hattatt's visual catalogue (2000, 363, no.1193) and an almost identical parallel has been recorded as SWYOR-0E2A45. Other examples have been recorded as LEIC-D26F13, LEIC-751965.

The brooch is 34.7mm in length, 23.2mm wide, 6.8mm thick and weighs 6.2g.