Material: Enamelled bronze
Period: Roman
imperial
Date: 1st
to 2nd century
Origin: Roman
provinces
Condition: VF, remnants
of the red and possibly white enamelling is present, the pin and
catch-plate are intact which is unusual.
Description: A zoomorphic bronze plate brooch with lozengiform body containing two concentric cells of two colour enamelling , the pin is present and the hinge and catch-plate are intact; the extended catch-plate end is modelled as a creature, possibly a fish or bird, with punched eyes and finely decorated scales or feathers on the area behind the head.
Size and Weight: 44mm x 22mm, 8.38g
References: cf, Hattatt's 'Ancient Brooches' item 1100, p352
Features and Provenance: Ex TimeLine. History of being in both US and UK collections since the 1990s.
Brooches as clothes fasteners have been made since the bronze age. As skills and metallurgy advanced, so did the size and detail of the fibulae. They were still used by the Romans, as buttons as then had yet to be invented. This type of brooch was an adapted plate brooch and their ornamentation indicated a degree of affluence by the wearer and their delicate structure points at them being used on equally delicate, expensive fabric.
Condition Summary . This varies with the age of the artefact and there are grades between
Extremely Fine (EF). Very slight traces of wear, all parts of pattern etc present, visible and clear
Very Fine (VF). Some signs of wear on the higher parts of the relief, all parts of pattern etc present, but may be worn
Fine (F). Wear on the artefact and parts of item and pattern etc may be missing or not visible
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Code RNC181