Heading: Roman jewellery - Roman brooch

Material: Bronze

Period: Roman imperial

Date: c2nd century AD

Origin: Roman provinces. possibly Romano-British or Gaul.

Condition: VF. nice patina. pin missing

Description: A small bronze plate fibula shaped as a horse and rider. detail is sharp with Celtic influences. As is often the case with these brooches. the pin is missing. as it was probably made from iron. catch-plate and hinge in place.

Size and Weight: 34mm. 5.4g 

References: cf. R. Hattatt's Ancient Brooches. p359 for type.

Features and Provenance: Found in Dorset. 

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 had yet to be invented. This type of zoomorphic Roman brooch is thought to be derived from Celtic patterns of fibula and have been found in Britain and across Europe. The small delicate size of the brooch may mean it was for show rather than function.

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  NCL095