Roman Bronze Discoid Plate Brooch

Comprising four curved sherds of burnished redware with carinated profile and scrolled tendrils in low-relief with rosettes and palmettes; with old collector's card 'Fragments of same Samian Decorated Bowl. / La Graufesenque / Nero-Vespasian Period / Found Colchester'. 83 grams total, 13-15 cm



Found Colchester, Essex, UK. From the collection of a late East Anglian teacher and antiquarian who retired to the Isle of Wight in Hampshire, UK. He amassed a large collection of objects between the 1960s-1980s. Accompanied by an old handwritten catalogue information card.

Standing adorant, wearing a knee-length tunic, the right arm held across the body to support the left hand raised to the mouth; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 102 grams total, 83 mm including stand



Found whilst searching with a metal detector in East Lindsey, Lincolnshire, UK, on Wednesday 19th August 1998. From a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000. From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent. Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no.NLM995.

This small statuette of a male figure in short hooded cloak (cucullus) has the left arm raised towards the chin, and the right arm lies on left arm just below the wrist. A similar statuette in PAS is identified as possibly depicting an adorant.

With a possibly later inset red jasper plaque with incuse gryphon supporting a shield or spoked wheel. 9.94 grams, 23.87 mm overall, 16.67 mm internal diameter (approximate size British H, USA 3 3/4, Europe 6.18, Japan 6)



Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of Surrey, UK, gentleman.