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Description: | An incomplete copper alloy two-piece Polden Hill brooch of Roman date (75-175 AD). The wings are semi-cylindrical with perforated wing / end caps. The wing caps are complete and the axis bar and spring are present. The pin is missing. The spring is formed from a length of copper alloy wire which has been turned nine times to form the spring and is attached by an external chord to a rearward facing hook. This hook is located at the centre of the wings on the upper edge. The axis bar is made of iron and has corroded. The bow head of the brooch is hump-like, and slightly angular. The bow is semi-circular (D-Shaped) in cross section. It tapers to a bulbous shaped turned foot. The catch plate on the reverse face of the bow is present but abraded; it expands from a central rib located beneath the head of the brooch. This rib runs from the head of the brooch to the foot. The catch plate is not pierced and is triangular in shape with the external edge being turned over to form a pin rest.The brooch is decorated with a series of cast and applied decoration. The cast decoration consists of a triangular recessed panel on the head of the brooch. This panel expands from the triangular rear facing hook present. The cast decoration is also present at the junction between the body of the brooch and the wings. Here there is a large rib on either side of the body. This design echoes that present on the wing caps which are raised above the level of the cylindrical wings. The other part of the cast decoration is present on the foot. Here two cast linear recesses divide the bulbous knop into three parts. There is a small nipple on the base hinting at a projecting pellet like knop. The other major area of decoration is on the bow / spine of the brooch. This decoration consists of two evenly spaced vertical lines each formed from a series of small inlaid enamel or niello triangles. The survival of this applied surface is patchy. It Is likely that the original design formed two chains of interlinked triangles (which look similar to a row of teeth). The brooch is a mid green colour with an uneven abraded patina. This abrasion is probably caused by movement in the plough soil and has resulted in damage around the extremities of the brooch. There are also several small areas of light green copper corrosion present. Similar brooches can be seen in Richard Hattatt's Visual Guide to Ancient brooches pp 300 fig; 159: However, a published parallel with similar applied decoration has not been found. A similar brooch was recorded by the PAS from Morton Corbett, Shropshire (HESH-466EF6)http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/114643The brooch measures 59.2mm length, 23.3m width across the wings and 8.5mm across the bow; it is 7.3mm thick at the same point. The brooch weighs 23.58 grams. | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/r... | Go to resource |
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