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Description: | An incomplete copper alloy Roman trumpet brooch dating from 75 - 175AD. The bow of the brooch has a curved (slightly stumpy) profile and D-shaped cross section. The brooch measures 54.3mm in length, 17.6mm width, and is 24.2mm thick. The bow tapers from a wide flared head to a narrow point above a bulbous turned foot knop. The brooch weighs 17.14 grams. The discussion of the brooch is in three parts; the head, the bow and the foot. The head of the brooch is sub oval and tapers into the bow. The head is decorated with a series of cast and inlaid elements which are based around two vertical lines each with three regularly-spaced dots which are inlaid with red enamel. Each of the red enamel dots is enclosed by a concentric circle, inlaid with either decayed enamel or a corroded silver wire. These concentric circles are joined by two vertical central ribs. At the top of the head is an abraded tab or spike which was probably intended to minimise the movement of the loop and collar. This feature is more prominent and elongated than is usually the case on Trumpet brooches. The back of the head is concave with a vertical bar that divides the head into two parts. This bar is complete and pierced with a sub-circular perforation which would have held the axis bar and spring. Neither the spring mechanism or pin survives. There are small elements of iron corrosion present which might suggest an iron axis bar or pin mechanism. The bow is D-shaped in cross-section with the reverse side being relatively flat. The head of the brooch tapers into the body which remains uniform in width. There are three distinct sub-circular (D shaped) cast mouldings. The central of these is relatively large and projects from the bow of the brooch. All three mouldings are decorated with a series of incised dots arranged in linear bands. Beneath these mouldings is a semi-cylindrical panel which is divided in two by an inlaid design. These designs mirror each other and consist of a similar decayed enamel / inlaid silver wire to that described above. On the reverse of the bow is a linear rib which extends into the catch plate. It is roughly sub-triangular in profile and measures 20.9mm length, 8.9mm in width, and 4.4mm thick. The catch plate has a small turned and recessed catch / pin rest. The foot of the brooch is bulbous and formed from a series of three transverse mouldings decorated with linear bands of raised dots. The lower mouldings terminates in a small rounded bulbous point. The brooch is of a mid-dark greenish/brown colour with an even patina which covers all surfaces. The brooch has several small areas of abrasion present which has removed the patina exposing the metal beneath. This damage is most obvious on the head. Where the abrasion has removed the patina a light green corrosion product is present. Similar examples can be seen in 'Roman Brooches from North Britain' (Snape 1993, 16-17) and in Hattatt's Visual Catalogue of Roman Brooches pages 326-328. These brooches have all been dated to the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/r... | Go to resource |
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