File:Knee brooch (FindID 964031).jpg

English: An incomplete cast copper-alloy sprung knee brooch of Roman date, dating to the period c. 150-250 AD.

Description: The brooch has sub-rectangular head. The line of the head in profile follows the curve of two integral sub-circular pierced lugs on the reverse of the head, these positioned in line with the edges of the head. Between the head and lugs is a cylindral recess open to the reverse and bottom. Within this recess is an in situ copper-alloy axis bar, threaded through the pierced lugs, and around which has been wrapped the coil of a sprung pin mechanism, three coils of which survive and which loops back around underneath the pin, the pin itself remains only as a stub. On the top edge of the head is an integral head loop, typical of the later enamel/silver inlaid knee brooches. The head is undecorated but there is a square panel of champleve enamel decoration on the bow. The bow is quite arched and the square enamel panel is divded into four creating triangle cells.The upper and lower cells have cobalt blue enamel remaining in situ while the side cells are empty. The foot is plain but does have a slight end knop, There is a stub of the catchplate on the reverse which goes part way up the understand of the bow.

Measurements: 34mm long, 10.69mm wide, 11.13mm high and 3.88g in weight.