BROOCH

A copper alloy 'umbonate' style plate brooch of early Roman date (100-250AD).

The brooch has been eroded on the outer edges; therefore the pin and catchplate are missing. The brooch is broadly circular in plan and 'D' shaped in profile. The brooch has a pronounced angular conical central boss which is surmounted by an incomplete sub-rectangular projection at the upper edge which would have once held the axis bar for the pin. The projection that would have formed part of the catchplate at the reverse on the lower edge is now missing. Originally there were probably projections surrounding the central boss in the form of small knops as seen in examples in Hattatt's (2000)A Visual Catalogue of Richard Hattatt's Ancient Brooches.The central boss is decorated with a central circular indentation surrounded by a series of wedge shaped inlaid panels. Five of these cells still contain the red enamelling. These are set within an outer band of single triangular shaped cells that are evenly spaced and regular; the edge of the copper alloy cells acts as a border / separator between the enamels. These cells are complete and contain deep blue coloured enamel. The reverse face is plain and undecorated. The centre of the reverse of the brooch has a deep concave depression echoing the boss on the front face. The remains of the hinge are apparent in two raised incomplete lateral ribs on the upper edge of the brooch. The ribs are semi-circular in profile. The metal has a mid-green coloured patina.

Similar brooches can be seen in Hattatt's visual catalogue of Roman Brooches; page 350, specifically no 128. These are broadly dated to the 2nd CenturyAD. A very well preserved and near complete example was discovered in in Shropshire (HESH-A8D4F4) and another example with similarly coloured enamelling was discovered in Hampshire (HAMP-394AD6).

The brooch measures 22.61mm length, is 16.92mm width and is 2.34mm thick. It weighs 2.4 grams.

Hattatt, R. (2000)A Visual Catalogue of Richard Hattatt's Ancient Brooches.Oxford, Oxbow Books.