Roman - Gold Crossbow Brooch > Lot No. 669

Description:
3rd-4th century AD. The brooch consists of a round-section cross-bar with discoid terminals and small third knob; on each arma triangle of hoops; the deeply-arched hexagonal-section bow extending to a narrow D-shaped finial section connecting to the rectangular footplate, with a sheet catchplate for the pin; the upper face of the footplate is decorated with a central reserved panel bearing a continuous recurved filigree wire with a granule in each curve; the design mirrored along the apex of the bow; on the flanking facets a line of punched dot decoration.

Measurements:
5.28 grams, 40 mm.

Condition:
Extremely fine, wearable.

References:
Hattatt, R. Iron Age and Roman Brooches. A second selection of brooches from the author's collection, Oxford, 1985 items 504, 505 and Hauck, K., Keller, H., and Staubach, N. Iconologia sacra: Mythos, Bildkunst und Dichtung in der Religions- und Sozialgeschichte Alteuropas : Festschrift für Karl Hauck zum 75. Geburtstag (Arbeiten zur Frühmittelalterforschung), Amsterdam, 1994.

Provenance:
From an old English collection, found Continental Europe.

Comments notes:
Crossbow brooches were the standard form of display fastening of the Roman Empire from the mid-3rd century onwards, developing from small, light types to heavier ones with larger knobs.

Estimate: £1,200 - 1,800 (EUR 1,490 - 2,230; USD 1,900 - 2,850)

Auction date: Thursday 9th September 2010 at The Swedenborg Hall 20-21 Bloomsbury Way
London WC1A 2TH

Sold for: £1,100