BROOCH

An incomplete copper-alloy and enamelled plate brooch of Roman date. It is in the form of a fish or dolphin, missing the pin due to old breaks. The fish has a round head with small projecting mouth or beak decorated on the front face with a small transverse groove. At the centre of the head the front face has a large circular eye with central pale blue (turquoise) enamelled pupil surrounded by an annular recessed field forming the iris but missing its enamel due to old breaks. The body of the fish is sub-triangular in form and tapers towards a flattened and flaring tail with notched outer edge. The tail is decorated on its front face with rows of multiple punched semi-circles. At the juncture of body and head is a projecting dorsal fin decorated with multiple diagonal grooves, and on the base/belly of the fish is a small triangular fin. The centre of the body has a recessed panel containing enamelled decoration. This comprises a rectangular band at the head end formed from two small squares of millefiori that have red borders, a central red dot, and a chequerboard of blue and white enamel surrounding it. This is followed by a band of dark blue enamel, and four further small squares of millefiori decoration. The central area of he enamelled panel is missing its enamel due to old breaks. but traces of millefiori are visible at the tail end. On the back face of the brooch at the head end of the fish is an integrally cast triangular catchplate. A corresponding double pin lug is visible towards the tail end, missing the pin due to old breaks. The entire object measures 42.70mm in length, 16.74mm in width/height, 1.95mm in thickness, and 4.47g in weight.

This is an incomplete plate brooch of Roman date in the form of a fish or dolphin. A similar, although not identical, brooch is noted in Hattatt (1989: no. 1199) and suggests a probable 2nd century AD date for the current example.