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Description: | A slightly incomplete cast copper alloy Colchester Two-Piece Headstud brooch, dating to the 1st/ 2nd century, between AD 43 - 200 (length: 42.5mm; width at wings: 15mm; thickness/ depth: 20mm; weight: 10.7g). This type of Headstud brooch has been defined by Bayley & Butcher (see bibliography below) as a type ??b??, which has a ??hinged and fixed headloop??. The brooch is T-shaped in plan and mostly sub-rectangular in section. At the top of the artefact and centrally protruding from the top of the head, there is a slightly worn and separately attached fixed copper alloy suspension/ attachment loop (outer diameter of loop: 8mm; inner diameter: 5.5mm; thickness: 2.5mm), which is oval in plan. The loop is incomplete with a gap along the top edge, which appears to be an old break. The short wings are rectangular in plan and sub-triangular in section with triple sloped stepping to either side of the head. The steps do not appear to be decorated. The tapering and arched bow of the brooch is rectangular in plan and sub-rectangular in section. At 6.5mm below the suspension/ attachment loop, there is a circular headstud (outer diameter: 6mm) comprised of one protruding and raised ring circling around a central raised circular platform (diameter of central platform: 3mm) with a recessed area between the two features. This recessed area may have originally had enamel in it, although there does not appear to be any currently surviving. Immediately below the headstud, there is a central line probably comprising of small lozenges down the length of the bow with rectangular probable recessed areas either side, which appear to contain niello. Additionally, there is a single linear groove to the left and right along the outside edge, which borders this decoration. There are three protruding ribs/ ridges below this decoration, which are undecorated and are above a narrowed section of the bow before it tapers outward again to form a sub-triangular foot in plan with a flat circular base. Additionally, there is another plain rib/ ridge immediately above the foot footknob. At the back of the brooch, the wings are enclosed with a small off-centre gap towards the left where the cast copper alloy hinge/ pin mechanism still remains with most of the rectangular-sectioned pin surviving (length: 28mm). There is no decoration of the back of the artefact and the slightly incomplete integral copper alloy catchplate still survives behind the lower half of the bow (length of catchplate: 23.5mm; width: 6.5mm; thickness: 1.5mm). The catchplate is sub-triangular in plan and flat in section but is incomplete where it would have originally curved off (now broken) to one side to enable the pin (when complete) to fasten into place when the brooch was attached to an item of clothing. Overall, the brooch is in a slightly worn and fair condition with a dark green patina. Similar examples are illustrated in Bayley, J & Butcher, S, 2004, ??Roman Brooches in Britain: A Technological and Typological Study based on the Richborough Collection??, pages 96-7, figs 76-7, ref nos 228-230. Bayley & Butcher also states (page 164) that ??like the trumpet brooches, the headstud type probably originated in high quality pieces with relief decoration in Celtic style.?? | Subjects: | Colchester Two Piece Headstud | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Creator: | Johnson, Caroline - Portable Antiquities Scheme | Identifier: | http://www.findsdatabase.org.uk/hms/pas_... | Language: | en-GB | Go to resource |
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