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Description: | An incomplete cast copper alloy Roman brooch, probably of Polden Hill type, consisting of two horizontal wings and a transverse bow. The wings are semi-cylindrical. The wings would have held the bar, spring and pin, all of which are missing. (See Bayley and Butcher, 2004 Roman Brooches in Britain: A technological and Typological Study Based on the Richborough Collection Society of Antiquaries p. 33-34 and p159).Little of the original surface of the wings remain, but a cream coloured substance is visible on one wing that may be the remains of enamelling. There is a collar where the wings meet the bow, which is a feature often noted on Polden Hill type brooches. The bow is decorated with a vertical line of cream coloured enamelled cells running down the centre. The lower of the enamelled cells is lozenge shaped, the upper cell is lozenge shaped with the addition of a spur pointing towards the wings, and the three intermediate cells are more elliptical, and are orientated in opposite directions in an alternating pattern. At either side of this decorative feature, vertical enamelled grooves supplemented by sub triangular enamelled cells point inwards. The bow, which has a humped profile, tapers and is broken towards the foot. There is no catchplate, against which the pin would have been secured. The brooch has a very corroded surface, but in places a well developed green patina on the original surface is visible. The brooch measures 35.83mm long, 22.57mm wide and weighs 10.05g. Bayley and Butcher (ibid. p159) explain that the Polden Hill type of brooch, "...exhibits a distinctive method of attaching the spring: it is carried in a semi-cylindrical crossbar which has closed ends to secure the axial rod, while the chord is held by a hook or crest on the head." Based on a review of literature, Worrell (unpublished, 2007) dates Polden Hill brooches to AD75-175. Bayley and Butcher (ibid. p 160) state that the main development of this type appears to have taken place in the West Midlands and that more recent finds have confirmed a concentration in this area.
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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