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Description: | A complete enamelled cast copper alloy Roman trumpet-headed brooch dating from second century (100 - 200) AD. The head of the brooch is similar to the more common trumpet brooch whereas the bow extends to a extended enamel plate which expands symmetrically to either side of the bow. It tapers to a regular foot. The brooch measures 35.1mm in length, 8.9mm width (across head), 16.7mm width (across plate) is maximum 8.5mm thick, and weighs 4.01 grams. The head of the brooch is complete although abraded. It is broadly oval in plan, and tapers into the bow. The reverse of the head has two projecting lugs positioned on either edge. These are pierced and have a copper alloy axis bar between them. The axis bar holds the spring and pin, which are extant. The spring and pin is formed from a single length of copper alloy wire, which has been turned five times to form the hinge. The end of the pin is sharpened to a point and projects 23.2mm from the spring, it is set at an angle due to movement in the ploughsoil. Projecting from the head of the brooch is a single cast oval which is decorated with a single ridge, this has also been abraded in the soil and it is possible that it would have originally been shaped as a spike. The head of the brooch is decorated with a single circumferential groove which is echoed on the spike like projection. The upper bow of the brooch is D shaped in cross section. The head of the brooch tapers into the body which expands to form a sub-triangular / V shaped plate. This plate is of a uniform thickness which is the same as the bow. The reverse face is flat and undecorated. The front face is decorated with three panels arranged to form a triangle which echoes the shape of the plate. The upper two panels are D shaped and filled with a white cream coloured enamel product. Beneath this is an irregular (heart shaped) panel filled with a matt red enamel. The white enamel is cracked and discoloured due to the burial environment and the surface of the red enamel is also powdery. Below the plate a small turned foot extends, the base of the foot is split into three forming a small claw. It is also set an angle from the bow. On the reverse of the plate and foot a small sub-triangular catch-plate extends. This plate extends from a cast ridge; the edge of the plate has been rolled to form the pin rest which is slightly abraded. If the pin were straightened the tip would rest on this plate. The brooch is of a mid brownish green colour with an abraded but polished patina which covers all surfaces. There is little evidence of corrosion present and this is most prolific in abraded areas. A number of similar brooches of this type can be seen in Richard Hattatt's Visual Catalogue of Ancient Brooches; page 329; a good parallel with similar decorative motifs is example 975 from Thetford, Norfolk.. All the brooches in this section are dated to the 2nd century 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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