UKDFD Recording Software

Disc Brooch

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 15:32:53 GMT

Description:		A small enamelled disc brooch of the Roman period. The brooch is flat with a raised rim and five pointed star-shaped pattern within, the rays of which terminate in small discs. There is also an additional small disc to the centre. The outer field contains the vestigial remains of dark blue enamel and there is a red infill to the centre of each terminal disc . On the back of the brooch the pin-lug and catchplate survive, but the pin is missing. The central five-pointed star is uncommon, the majority of recorded examples being six-pointed, see UKDFD 57175. Also note DOR-D9A020
Category:		Roman, Brooches, Plate brooches
Category:		Plate brooches

Peltate Brooch

Sun, 29 Sep 2024 18:35:28 GMT

Description:		An unusual enamelled brooch dating to the late Iron Age or early Roman period and of probable continental manufacture. The brooch is broadly D-shaped in plan, the curved portion being markedly pelta-shaped. Two slender arched arms extend inwards from the sides of the pelta at symmetrical points and meet at a bulbous central knop. The front of the peltate section is decorated with inner and outer rows of triangular champlevé enamel cells, several of which retain traces of red enamel. The straight 'bar' of the brooch has three outward-facing enamel cells of larger size and circular, but all are now vacant. The back of the brooch retains its laterally oriented wire pin, hinge lugs and catch-plate. The bulbous nose-like knop resting on the inner edge of the pelta, and the eye-like 'openwork' created by its supporting arms, suggest a face-mask somewhat reminiscent of the 'hidden faces' sometimes incorporated into the designs of Celtic coins (Image 6). It is noted, however, that on both the PAS and Mackreth specimens referenced below, the two slender arms arc rearwards rather than forwards, and the knop is located in the centre of the aperture. It would seem, therefore, that these arms on the present brooch have been bent forwards. Cf. PAS: BH-098BC8
Category:		Roman, Brooches, Plate brooches
Category:		Plate brooches

Disc Brooch

Sun, 15 Sep 2024 16:33:22 GMT

Description:		An enamelled disc brooch of the Roman period. The face of the brooch is slightly dished and has a central circular recess filled with red enamel, surrounded by an outer concentric band of blue enamel with seventeen evenly spaced bronze dots around the centre line, and a plain, broad outer border. On the back of the brooch are the catchplate and the two pin lugs that housed the sprung pin mechanism, fragments of which are visible.
Category:		Roman, Brooches, Plate brooches
Category:		Plate brooches

Disc Brooch

Sun, 15 Sep 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Description:		An enamelled disc brooch of the Roman period. The brooch is circular and flat with a 'fantail' protrusion above the catch-plate, and the broken base of an uncertain protrusion diametrically opposite. Equally spaced between these two protrusions there are sixteen small peripheral knops. The decorative design consists of a central square with concave sides, four adjoining triangles with concave bases, and four solid lozenges, which extend diagonally from the corners of the square. The central square is inlaid with enamel (now white, but possibly decomposed) and has a solid metal dot at its centre. The triangles and the vesica-shaped interspaces formed between their bases and the concave sides of the square are also inlaid with enamel, but again it is decomposed and the original colour is uncertain. The interspaces formed between the straight sides of the triangles, the solid lozenges and the raised edge of the brooch each have a solid metal dot at their centre and are inlaid with enamel. Some of the enamel appears to be blue, but much of it is decomposed, like that in the other cells. The fantail protrusion has three triangular enamel cells, also with decomposed enamel present. The double hinge-lugs and catch-plate survive intact on the back of the brooch, the surface of which has traces of tinning. The pin is missing. Note It has been suggested that the brooch's enamelling is cloisonné work. On close examination of the image, however, it appears to be champlevé work, the cell structure of which is moulded rather than formed by separately applied metal strips.
Category:		Roman, Brooches, Plate brooches
Category:		Plate brooches

Tutulus Brooch

Wed, 13 Sep 2023 14:42:55 GMT

Description:		A Tutulus disc brooch of the Roman period. It has two concentric grooves close to the edge of the disc, and a truncated cone in the centre with a circumferential rib around its apex. The cone has suffered some damage. The periphery of the brooch has a raised rim, around which there are six equally spaced radial knops. On the back of the brooch, the lugs, catchplate, and the hinged copper-alloy pin survive. There are rust deposits around the hinge lugs, probably from the iron axis pin.
Category:		Roman, Brooches, Plate brooches
Category:		Plate brooches

Disc Brooch

Sat, 11 Mar 2023 09:15:26 GMT

Description:		A small enamelled disc brooch of the Roman period. The brooch is of the early simple type, flat and plain edged. The decoration consists of a hexactinal motif, the small disc at the centre of the motif, and the six which terminate the points of it are copper-alloy. The recessed area within the motif contains red enamel, the field surrounding the motif contains blue enamel, generous amounts of both colours survive. The remains of the pin-lug and catchplate survive on the back of the brooch, the pin is missing. Originally the brooch was probably circular, but due to damage around the edge, it now has an oval form.
Category:		Roman, Brooches, Plate brooches
Category:		Plate brooches

Umbonate Brooch

Wed, 08 Mar 2023 13:42:35 GMT

Description:		A copper-alloy umbonate plate brooch of the Roman period. A deep groove separates the rim and the dome of the brooch which is decorated with two concentric bands of champlevé enamel around a central ring and dot indentation, the cells are triangular and create a sunburst effect. Both bands contain fourteen cells, the cells on the inner band are slightly smaller than the cells on the outer band, traces of blue and red enamel survive. The brooch is lozenge-shaped in plan, due to four equally-spaced projections around the edge, comprising the larger uppermost lug which is an integrally cast chain loop (now broken), a smaller opposing sub-rectangular lug, and two sub-triangular side lugs. On the reverse of the brooch, located on the back of the chain loop are twin lugs to accommodate a hinged pin, now missing, and a catchplate with curved return.
Category:		Roman, Brooches, Plate brooches
Category:		Plate brooches

Disc Brooch (Tutulus Variant)

Mon, 20 Feb 2023 22:05:38 GMT

Description:		A copper-alloy heavily gilded tutulus variant disc brooch of the Roman period. It has an upturned outer rim and two concentric ribs, at the centre of the brooch is a short truncated inverted cone, (now damaged). The channel between the outer rim and the first rib is decorated with punched evenly spaced S-shaped motifs, and the inner rib is decorated with smaller similar motifs. The reverse of the brooch is flat, it has the remains of the catchplate and a rearward single lug that carried the sprung pin. Traces of a silver or tinned finish survive.
Category:		Roman, Brooches, Plate brooches
Category:		Plate brooches

Disc Brooch

Sun, 19 Feb 2023 15:22:10 GMT

Description:		A small enamelled disc brooch of the Roman period. The brooch is flat with a slightly raised rim and cast hexactinal pattern within, the rays of which terminate in small discs. There is also an additional small disc to the centre. The outer field contains a light green enamel, the inner field blue. On the back of the brooch the pin-lug and catchplate survive, but the pin is missing.
Category:		Roman, Brooches, Plate brooches
Category:		Plate brooches

Dragonesque Brooch

Mon, 10 Oct 2022 18:11:00 GMT

Description:		An incomplete S-shaped zoomorphic dragonesque brooch of the 1st to 2nd century AD. It has opposing animal heads of a similar type at each end, both now damaged. One head has formed a closed loop to which the curled end of the copper alloy pin (now missing) would be attached. The body is decorated with alternating, triangular cells of blue and red enamel which surround a central circular cell of green enamel. Traces of enamel also survive on the animal heads.
Category:		Roman, Brooches, Plate brooches
Category:		Plate brooches