File:An incomplete cast copper alloy Aesica brooch with Celtic-style motif, dating to the 1st century AD. This unusual brooch also derives from Rosette- Thistle brooches. (FindID 69129).jpg

English: An incomplete cast copper alloy Aesica brooch with Celtic-style motif (length: 47.8mm; width (at wings): 21.9mm; thickness (at wings): 5.1mm; weight: 12.66g). This brooch’s style is rather unusual and has its origins among the Rosette/ Thistle brooches of the 1st century AD. The wings have rounded terminals, which at one end, seem to extend out of an open-mouthed decoration. There is a hole at the head in between the wings (diameter: 1.9mm) which perforates through to the back. This would have been for a crest, now missing. There is a simple line of scroll work lifting from one wing terminal, over the perforated hole, and coming down to the other wing terminal.

There is another larger perforated hole (diameter: 2.8mm) in the centre of the circular section in the middle of the bow (diameter: 17.8mm). This is also for a crest, now missing, circled by a protruding ridge. This design is very similar to a decorated bronze well-disc found at Monasterevan, Co. Kildare, dating to the Iron Age (Kilbride-Jones, 1980, page 126-7, fig 33, Ref no 2). The hole and circular ridge are surrounded by a crescent decoration. It has been suggested that this feature is also similar in design to a ‘pelta’ or a type of Greek shield with a thick crescent shape and a semicircular indentation on one side (Smith, 1901, page 363-4). The circular section mid bow has a protruding rib running round the edge. There is slight evidence of two small knobs protruding out to the side just below this circular area.

The reminder of the bow, leading down to the foot, starts with a width of 13mm and ends at the bottom where it splays out to a width of 19.1mm. There is further Celtic-style motif scroll decoration running down its length (21.9mm). The decoration could be a simplified version of the Elmswell-Broighter Style which is illustrated on a handle and mount from a decorated bronze mirror found at Nijmegen, Holland (Kilbride-Jones, 1980, page 81, fig 21, Ref no 2). The artwork is similar in the formation of a circular head with scrolls running down from it to form two other scrolls facing away from each other.

There is no evidence of a hinge/ spring mechanism behind the wings as only the cusp/ cover remains. A substantial amount of the catch plate does remain, but has been interrupted by a break just below the middle of the bow. The brooch has been attached together again. The side profile of the brooch is flat about from the bottom slightly angling out to the front. No pin remains.

Overall, the condition of the brooch is rather poor with high concentrations of corrosion specifically at the wing terminals and the bottom/ foot of the brooch, therefore disguising part of the decoration too. The break and missing features especially from the back of the brooch are probable evidence of ware and tear that the brooch has contended with. The brooch has a dark green patina.

Close parallels of other Aesica brooches can be seen in Hattatt’s ‘Iron Age & Roman Brooches’, 1985, page 47, fig 20, Ref nos 287-9. However, this unusual Aesica derives from Thistle/ Rosette brooches of the 1st century AD, and you are able to see closer parallels with these brooches. For example, Ref no 285, Fig 19, page 44, Hattatt, 1985. The side profile for this example is flat and more similar to this discussed brooch with Celtic-style motif. Thistle/ Keyhole type brooches are also similar, for example, Ref no 72, fig 41, page 101, ‘Ancient & Romano-British Brooches’, Hattatt, 1982. The distribution for these types covers eastern England, notably Essex, Suffolk and North Lincolnshire as well as some spread down to the south (see distribution map 6, fig 18, page 49, ‘Brooches of Antiquity’, Hattatt, 1987).

Dr W Smith; 'Dictionary of Greek & Roman Antiquities' (3rd edition); 1901; pages 363-4.