BROOCH 181212

Description: Complete copper alloy and enamel Roman zoomorphic brooch in the form of a duck. It is 31.7mm in length (from beak to tail) and max.12.3mm wide (at its breast). It weighs 4.21g. The body itself is rather flat and does not stand very high, max.2.6mm. It is occupied by four fields of enamel, representing the wings and back (to the tail). The outer two fields (wings) are filled with a blue enamel, the inner two (back/ tail) a white enamel. These fields are an elongated tear-drop shape, one pair being inverted compared to the other. The body itself is tear-drop shaped, with a small D-shaped tail extending from the 'pointed' end (the flat of the D being against the body). Body and tail are 25.3mm long. The neck extends 8.3mm from the body into the head, curving, and a very flat, wide and long beak extending (4mm wide, 1.2mm thick, 8mm long). The beak has a slight mid-rib and turns up at the end. On the underside the catchplate is complete, as is the spring mechanism and pin which, though a little corroded, still work. Cf Hattatt 1168 and 1170, although both these examples have pierced tails to act as a chain loop. Bailey and Butcher (2004, Roman Brooches in Britain, p.175) date this type of brooch to the later 2nd century.

Date: 170 - 200

Object type: BROOCH

Last import: August 15, 2017