BROOCH 149583

Description: A worn and incomplete Roman cast copper-alloy plate brooch of 'umbonate' type (c. 2nd-century AD). The brooch is now sub-circular, with a prominent central dome (Dia.: 17.7mm, H.: c. 6.5mm above plate). The dome is conical, truncated at the top, with a hollow concave reverse. It is dominated by eight carved cells which are filled with enamel using the champlevé technique. The cells are all triangular and taper towards the summit. At the summit there is a small circular recess which might also have been filled with enamel. The enamelling appears to have involved alternate colours in each cell; only enamel which is now off-white has survived in every other cell. Below the cells, at the base of the dome is a border c. 3.6mm thick. The plate has suffered considerable losses to its edge. There is an obvious protrusion at one end on the reverse of which are the remains of the abraded catchplate. At the opposite end of this surface a doubly perforated lug can be seen; the hinged pin is missing. This example is interesting for its small number of cells: most umbonate brooches seem to feature small cells arranged in two circles on the dome (ex. Hattatt 2000, 350; fig. 209).

Date: 100 - 250

Object type: BROOCH

Last import: August 15, 2017