BROOCH

Lead alloy cast model possibly representing the head and bow of a 'T' shaped or Dolphin Roman brooch at 1:1 scale. As presented, the object lacks mechanical strength and, in this case, a hinged pin or spring to permit the brooch to operate is also absent, along with the catch plate; the top of the bow ending on a plain slightly curved edge. The length is 63mm, the width is 25mm thickness 11mm.
First, this may be a trial piece or model of Roman date, or possibly a symbolic replacement for a brooch. The latter is occasionally encountered, though mainly in post-Roman (Anglo-Saxon) burial contexts. This may be a 19th century imitation of a Romano-British brooch form in an easily cast material, omitting the complexities of the pin gear. Another possibility is that the object is completely unrelated to brooches, and is some different class of object altogether, perhaps, for example, a handle fragment.
The brooch pattern is a mid - whitish grey colour with an uneven abraded patina. Where abrasion has occurred patches of light white corrosion product are present.
It could be interpreted as a pattern for making moulds for casting simple crossbow brooches. Similar styles of brooch can be seen in Richard Hattatt's Visual Guide to Ancient brooches and Bayley and Butcher: Roman Brooches in Britain. There are very few parallels for lead forms or brooches; the PAS have recorded 8 (NMS-006CB8 Grimston Norfolk, NCL-287030 Piercebridge, Durham, WMID865 Chaddesley, Worcestershire, HESH-8D3853 Harley and HESH-2D60D4 Cleobury, Shropshire,
NMGW-B7CA69 Rossett, Wrexham, HESH-3AF6F8 Ecclesfield, Staffordshire and SWYOR-E383C6 Darrington, West Yorkshire (a form of trumpet brooch) as well as possibly SWYOR-6F0D36 from Nottinghamshire. There are several other published examples which are examined briefly in a short note by Angie Bolton in the PAS Midlands Region Newsletter 4 - Spring 2006. Currently these are interpreted as lead forms for making moulds and may be evidence of brooch manufacture. A recently published example in MacKreth (2011: p5) notes a lead pattern for a Polden Hill Dolphin style brooch being found at Donnington, Salop (9825).
It is possible that this form of lead brooch could also be interpreted as miniature artefacts or votive models it should be noted that some are interpreted as such within the archaeological record.