Roman Bronze Dolphin Brooch 1st – 2nd Century

Description

Material: Bronze zoomorphic brooch in the round

Period: Roman imperial

Date: 1st-2nd century AD

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

Condition: VF. pin missing

Description: A beautiful bronze zoomorphic brooch in the form (in the round) of a dolphin. with curved body and annular eyes and splayed tail. Sadly the pin is missing but the attachments (sprung hinge and catch plate) are present.

Size and Weight: 41mm. 13g 

References: R. Hattatt’s Ancient Brooches. p362 for similar. The usual form is a flat brooch but this is unusual being more life-like.

Features and Provenance: 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. The brooch was probably decorative rather than functional. but may have been used at the shoulder to fasten Roman ladies tunics called the chiton or peplos. 

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