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Description: | An incomplete cast copper alloy and enameled Colchester Two Piece Headstud brooch, dating to the 1st/ 2nd century, between AD 43 - 200 (length: 33mm; width at wings: 20mm; thickness/ depth: 14.5mm; weight: 8.4g).
There is no indication that this brooch had a suspension loop extending out from the top of the brooch, which is usually a common feature of Headstud brooches. The wings of the brooch are slightly incomplete and are sub-rectangular in plan and cuboid/ four-sided in side section. At the top of the wings/ head, there are two parallel linear ridges running across the width. The frontward facing side of the wings are plain in decoration, apart from a single linear ridge running down the side's length at each end of the wings to the left and right. Immediately below the cuboid wings, the circular headstud (which is recessed in the centre presumably for enamel [now missing]) has an outer diameter of 8mm and a recessed inner diameter of 5.5mm and forms the top of the bow of the brooch. There is a central moulded button (similar to decoration on Trumpet brooches) below the headstud, with two flanking ribs to the top and bottom, all of which are only visible at the front of the brooch. The central button also has worn evidence of small multiple linear markings down its length. Below the button and ridges, the majority of the bow consists of five rectangular recessed cells formed in a slightly tapering line towards the foot. These cells still have most of the enamel remaining inside, comprising of three red enamel cells alternating with two yellow cells, which follow this pattern: red - yellow - red - yellow - red (average length of each enameled cell:3mm; width: 4mm). Below this enameled decoration and at the bottom of the bow, there are three protruding ribs at the front of the brooch, similar to those appearing above the enameled cells. There is another single rib immediately above the foot knob, which is fairly flat and circular in plan and which may have the same small linear markings as the central button, but the foot knob is to worn to identify this clearly. At the base of the footknob, there is a central circular bead (diameter: 2mm) in the centre of a circular recessed area (diameter: 3.5mm).
At the back of the brooch, some of the surface is disguised under blue tack, although the complete copper alloy hinged mechanism/ casing at the back of the wings is clearly evident. The mechanism appears to be held in place by a copper alloy axis bar and the majority of the slightly off-centre copper alloy pin is still in place (length of pin: 18mm), although is in pitted and corroded in areas. The underside of the cuboid wings and top of the bow are flat and undecorated, with the incomplete copper alloy catch-plate commences just below where the central button an ribs are on the front of the brooch. On one side of the catch-plate, there are small incised scratches or markings, which may well be contemporary with the brooch's manufacture. Overall, the brooch is in a slightly worn but good condition with a dark green patina.
Similar Headstud brooches are illustrated in Bayley, J & Butcher, S, 2004, 'Roman Brooches in Britain: A Technological and Typological Study based on the Richborough Collection', pages 95-98. Bayley & Butcher also state (page 164) that 'like the trumpet brooches, the headstud type probably originated in high quality pieces with relief decoration in Celtic style.' | Format: | text/html | License: | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ | Publisher: | The Portable Antiquities Scheme | Rights holder: | The Portable Antiquities Scheme | Subjects: | archaeology | Temporal: | 43
200 | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://www.finds.org.uk/database/artefac... | Language: | en-GB | Format: | text/html | Go to resource |
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