BROOCH 458676

Description: An incomplete Roman (AD 50-150) copper alloy Colchester Derivative T-shaped brooch with hinge mechanism, missing one tubular wing and its pin. In addition the lower bow is bent. The brooch measures 49.90mm in bent length (unbent c.56mm) and weighs 7.5g. The surviving width of the brooch is 20.30mm and would have originally been c.30mm. The surviving wing measures 4.79mm in diameter and is decorated to the front with a moulded transverse rib with decorative diagonal grooves, to give the impression of cabling. This is bound on the inside by a narrow rib. To the reverse is a slot for the pin which is now covered with iron concretion, as is the break on the other side of the wing. The bow extends from the top of the wings and is 8.76mm wide and D-shaped in cross-section. It is decorated to the front with a prominent wide triangular mid-rib with a groove to either side with traces of at least two narrow ribs on one side. A patch of white-metal coating, probably tinning, is visible here. The bow projects slightly outwards before dropping and narrowing to the foot, 1.05mm wide. The remainder of the bow is plain except for four transverse grooves above the foot, also carrying traces of a white-metal coating. The catchplate extends to the reverse 21.01mm in length, slightly damaged.

Date: 50 - 150

Object type: BROOCH

Last import: August 15, 2017