Roman Bronze Running Hound Brooch

£ 215.00

A Roman bronze plate brooch in the form of a running hound. The fibula features an elongated, narrow body, leading to the head of the hound with its nose and ears pricked up. The short, tail is upturned and curves back on itself. The hound is depicted running through the use of in-turned feet. The reverse of the brooch is plain except for the original pin catch and partial spring. The pin is now missing.

Date: Circa 2nd Century AD
Provenance: Ex Cambridgeshire private collection, 1990's-2000's.
Condition: Fine condition, spring still attached.

SOLD

SKU: LD-441 Category: Tag:

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. The hound was a popular symbol for the Romano-Celtic culture and it was thought that Roman soldiers when stationed in the British providences would wear these type of hound pins.

For more information on Roman animal symbolism, please see our blog post: Animal Symbolism in Roman Art.

Weight 6.4 g
Dimensions L 3.8 x H 2.1 cm
Culture

Metal

Region