Find Spot record 15300 - Romano-British Brooch from Oldhouse Farm

<1> Portable Antiquities Scheme, Various, Portable Antiquities Data Import, LVPL-51A341 (Digital Archive). SCH5212.

Cast copper alloy dolphin brooch dating from 43-65AD. The object is almost complete and in very good condition. The bow rises from the top of the wings sweeping in an arc towards the foot. It is gently curved in profile. The wings are tubular with a raised stop-ridge at either end.

The object is decorated with a central rib running the length of the bow. The top half of this rib is smooth and undecorated while running from the centre of the bow to the foot it is decorated with small inverted V-shaped grooves. Either side of this rib is a groove followed by another rib which are also decorated with the inverted V-shaped groove resulting in rows of small triangular decoration. Either side of these ribs is a panel containing concentric 'ring-and-boss' decoration. This also runs the length of the bow. The remains of silvering can be seen on the front of the bow.

The foot of the brooch is decorated with two horizontal ribs which are notched. Below these is a large circular horizontal ridge with a central groove. On the bottom of the foot is a small circular boss.

The catch-plate is large and almost complete. On one face of the catch-plate a grooved border runs from the top down along the curve and terminates at the right-angle. Within this groove are V-shaped grooves. The edge of the vertical section of the catch-plate is decorated with a raised ridge which is in turn decorated with small horizontal grooves. The catch-plate and reverse of the brooch is silvered.

The iron spring remains attached within the wings and is secured by an iron access bar. The spring is corroded. The pin is missing. The object has a dark green patina and is in very good condition.

<2> The British Museum, Portable Antiquities Scheme Online Database, LVPL-51A341 (Web Site). SCH5176.