File:Roman knee brooch (FindID 453754).jpg

English: A cast copper-alloy fragment of a Roman knee brooch dating to the 2nd century or 3rd century AD. This brooch has broken at a mid point on the bow; the upper bow, head, spring mechanism and pin were all lost as a result. In profile the bow was S shaped; the lower 'C' survives. As the upper bow would have been, the leg is a thick strip, rectangular in cross-section. As implied, the leg is concave, curling round on itself at the foot. Around the point of break there is a transverse moulded ridge on both faces. The lowermost is on the rear and marks the start of the moulded upper bow. The higher moulding represents the end of the C-shaped (in profile) leg. The leg widens very slightly at the foot. The foot is slightly abraded but appears to represent the leg's fullest extent. About halfway between the foot and the lowermost moulding on the rear is an elongated catch-plate set at right angles to the leg (L.: 8.2mm). The has a rounded end and a diagonal removal to create the hook. On the lower surface of the catch-plate, between the hook and the leg, are two triangular depressions, a decorative touch also seen on the published parallel quoted below. The brooch has a mid-green patina but is almost entirely covering in a white metal coating. It has been pitted slightly in places and the catch-plate's tip has been bent upwards slightly as a result of old damage. A similar brooch can be found illustrated in Hattatt (2000, 335; ref. 1668) and is similar to Bayley and Butcher's Type 176 (Bayley and Butcher 2004, p. 179 passim). Type 176 occurs on the German limes where it is abundant in the period AD 150 to 200. They are also widespread, though not numerous in Britain.