BROOCH

A complete cast copper alloy headstud bow brooch of Roman date (100-200AD). The bow wings are complete and stub-like being rectangular in plan and D shaped in cross section. The pin / axis bar is held by a rolled spring case extending from the upper edge of teh rear of the wings - a vertical slot is cut from this spring case to accomodate the pin. The spring and pin are lost. The upper head of teh brooch has a drilled hole, through which an applied stud passes and is fixed by the two elements of teh shank being folded back upon themselves. The stud is decorated with a cast star burst pattern which was probably originally enamelled. The bow of the brooch is robust and angular; it is rectangular in cross section. The bow tapers along its length and terminates in an outurned foot knop - decorated with a reel and a pellet at the base. The catch plate on the reverse face of the bow is complete; it expands from a shallow rib below the mid-point. The pin rest is by the external edge being rolled to form a shallow U shape. Apart from the applied stud, the bow of teh brooch is undecorated although the shoulders and wings are also decorated with transverse vertical cast ribs. The brooch is a mid - dark green colour with a well preserved but abraded patina. Similar brooches can be seen in Richard Hattatt's Visual Guide to Ancient brooches pp 332 fig; 191 and Bayley and Butcher: Roman Brooches in Britain p 168-169.

The brooch measures 70.5mm length, 23.5mm width across wings 7.4mm width across bow, is 3.6mm thick at the same point; the brooch weighs 19.8 grams.