BROOCH

An incomplete copper alloy Trumpet style brooch, of Roman (75 to 175 AD) dating.

Approximately 50% of the brooch is present, with the foot, pin, spring and part of the catch plate missing, presumed lost in antiquity. The rest of the brooch is intact.

The head of the brooch is oval in plan, and tapers into the bow. A vertical lug on the back of the head has an incomplete axis hole to retain the pin. The bow of the brooch is D shaped in cross section. The head of the brooch tapers into the body. Faint decoration involving a central ridge, with flanking pointed oval shapes to either side. Each shape has a circular recess in the centre. Beneath this is a central globular collar, with a smaller flatter collar above and below. The rest of the bow is bevelled to either side, creating a central ridge. The catch plate starts beneath the moulding on the back of the brooch and survives as a vertical ridge.

The brooch measures 47.3 mm in length, 11.9 mm wide and 18.7 mm thick. It weighs 16.0 g.

The brooch is a mid green colour, with an uneven surface patina.

Trumpet style brooches typically date from 75 to 175 AD. Hattatt (2000, p326, fig 185) published several similar examples, in particular #1529 from Castleford, West Yorkshire and #948 from Wall, Staffordshire. Similar brooches have been recorded on the PAS database as WMID-A3750D, WMID-0656C1 & WMID-982053.

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