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Description: | Incomplete copper alloy two-piece Wirral type bow brooch of Roman date (100-200AD). The brooch consists of an oval D shaped head from which a broken head loop projects. On the reverse of the head are two perforated lugs through which an iron axis bar passes. The remains of the hinged iron pin are present but broken close to the axis bar. The bow of the brooch is relatively short angular, but unusually thick and robust; the bow is broadly D shaped in cross section with the flat part of the bow being the exterior edge and the curved part the interior. The bow tapers along its length; it is broken below the mid point; the break is worn but patinated suggesting damage in antiquity. The lower bow tapers dramatically from the mid point. The catch plate on the reverse face of the bow is present but truncated by the break; it expands from a central rib located beneath the mid-point of the bow of the brooch. The brooch is decorated with a number of both cast and applied decoration. The applied decoration is present on the upper bow; here, there is a rectangular panel which has been split vertically into three even columns. Within each of these columns are smaller squares of dark red coloured glass or enamel and another darker (possibly green or blue coloured) glass. These alternate forming a well executed checker-board pattern. The panel extends from a point below the junction with the head loop to the middle of the bow. The cast decoration consists of relatively simple geometric patterns. These are situated at the junction of the head and bow and similarly at the junction between the head and head loop. The decoration between the head and bow is augmented by a single horixontal panel of raised square shaped pellets. A further area of decoration is present beneath the enamelled panel where a circular raised boss is present; which is surmounted by a small nipple or knop.. The lower bow is incomplete, but seems to be decorated with curvilinear swirls, specifically on the external edges.The brooch is a mid green colour with an even but abraded patina; in several places the patina is worn thin and a brass coloured metal revealed; this patina is similar to that seen in water derived deposist. Where abrasion has occurred it is slight and has affected the exterior elements of the brooch. The break on the head loop is relatively old and the edges are worn. The preservation of the applied enamel surfaces has been affected by the burial conditions and although relatively complete they are fragile. Similar brooches can be seen in Richard Hattatt's Visual Guide to Ancient brooches pp 331 fig; 190 example 1538 and Bayley and Butcher: Roman Brooches in Britain p 168-169. The distribution of the Wirral Style brooches is similar to that of the Wroxeter style of brooch appears to originate in the Midlands and North Wales. This example fits into Hulls typology as T151 - D. This type of brooch is being investigated by Frances McIntosh, FLO Cheshire (etc.); she notes that this type of brooch dates to the 2nd century as they take some features from trumpets and are so similar to certain of the Wroxeter. Their main distribution is the Wirral, Cheshire, North Shropshire and North Wales; there are some outliers in the Vale of Glamorgan (Wales) and also some in the North East.The brooch measures 38.3mm length, 10.0m width, is 8.9mm thick and weighs 16.28 grams.
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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