Romano-Celtic Bronze Enamelled Bird Brooch

£ 245.00

A Romano-Celtic bronze enamelled bird-in-flight brooch with outspread wings. This brooch features a large central body, decorated with cresent-shaped horizontal incisions to form feathered markings. The unfurled wings are decorated similarly with added enamel detailing in blue and red still visible. As is typicl with such forms, the birds head is small in comparison to the rest of the body. The reverse of the brooch is unmarked and features the original hinge and catchplate, although the pin is now missing.

Date: Circa 2nd century AD
Condition: Excellent. Some loss of detailing to the enamel. Original pin missing.

SOLD

SKU: AH-1100 Category: Tags: , ,

Brooches were used as practical accessories to help keep cloaks, trousers and other pieces of clothing fastened. The accessories were status symbols with many brooches being made of expensive materials. The more elaborate the deign also indicated the status of the wearer. Zoomorphic brooches were a common theme and birds-in-flight make up a large proportion of the examples found. Celtic brooches usually portrayed animals that held a religious or superstitious meaning.

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

Weight 3.2 g
Dimensions W 1.9 cm
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Metal

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