BOW BROOCH

An incomplete cast copper-alloy bow brooch dating to the Roman period, c. 100-150 AD. The brooch is of Trumpet derivative type (fantail subtype) though only the lower body, foot and catchplate of the brooch survive, with the rest having broken away in old damage. The foot and lower body of the brooch is broadly triangular in plan view and plano-convex in section, with a flattened back and slightly rounded upper surface. The upper face of the brooch has been ornately decorated in a single rectangular field of decoration, with three central conjoined lozengiform and recessed cells inlaid with blue enamel flanked in a lattice pattern by eight triangular cells inlaid with red enamel. Above this field of decoration, three transverse grooves are visible which originally would have divided the lower body of the brooch from an ornate bossed circular mid-section, above which the head of the brooch would have flared out. However, these elements are now missing due to an abrupt truncation. The back of the brooch is plain, excepting for the catchplate, which itself is sub-triangular in form and survives intact, though has somewhat rolled back on itself due to post-depositional damage. Preserved in relatively good condition with an even green patina, the brooch survives to a length of 20.75mm, 15.70mm wide at its lower edge and 4.43mm wide at its upper edge. It measures 6.15mm thick at its midpoint (including the catchplate) and weighs 3.20 grammes.

Parallels for this brooch demonstrating similar two-toned enamel inlays are visible in Mackreth (2012, vol. II, plate 86, p.89, no. 5603) as well as on the PAS database (NLM-2217F7). Dating evidence for this is scarce, though they seem to be a phenomenon of the later 1st to mid 2nd centuries AD. Their distribution is markedly concentrated in eastern England, specifically Lincolnshire (Mackreth 2012, vol. I, p. 127).