£ 550.00
A Roman bronze zoomorphic plate brooch, perhaps of a dog, shown in profile. The body of the animal is stocky, with its four legs and musculature clearly shown. Its tail is very long and S-shaped, curving back on itself at its end. The face of the animal shows one ear and one eye, with its jaws wide open. In its mouth it holds what may be either its young or its prey. The brooch is in excellent condition with its original pin still intact.
Small brooches like this one, often in stylised animal forms, were worn by both Roman soldiers and subjects across the empire. They served both a decorative and practical function, being used to fasten articles of clothing, particularly cloaks. Archaeological evidence suggests that the centres of Roman brooch production were in the provinces of Britannia and Gaul.
To discover more on Roman and Celtic brooches, please see our relevant blog post: Roman and Celtic Fibulae
| Weight | 13.9 g |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | L 3.8 x W 1.4 x H 2.0 cm |
| Metal | Bronze |
| Region | Central Europe, Eastern Europe, North Europe, Southern Europe, Western Europe |
