Daniel’s Head Stud Brooch
Daniel Sharpe chose this brooch as his object. From MODES Daniel was able to discover that the object is described as ‘part of the bow of a Roman head stud brooch, enamelled with a series of blue lozenges. Paler colour of triangles between the lozenges cannot now be identified. The head stud has a centre of pale blue enamel, but the top part of the brooch has broken off immediately above the stud. It has a solid catch-plate and moulded terminal and is of a northern type.’ The brooch was found at Meering, which is about 10 miles north of Newark. Through further research Daniel has been able to discover that the brooch is a type of fibula, which in Latin means ‘to fasten’. These brooches would have been used to fasten clothing such as cloaks, which might have been a very necessary item of clothing given the colder climate of Britain. The head stud brooch is native to Britain first appearing during the second century AD. They had a long bow with a stud or occasionally a ring at the head and were richly decorated and enamelled. A chain may have linked two brooches together from the head loops. During the visit to the British Museum Daniel was able to see many different types of Roman brooch including some similar to the one he has chosen. Brooches or pins are still used today to pin clothes together or as decoration. Daniel chose this object because he liked the shape and enamelled patterns.
Daniel examining the brooch at the Resource Centre
