Copper-alloy, 4.66 grams, 27.77 mm. 2nd century AD. A cast copper-alloy fastener comprising a lozengiform plate and two T-shaped pegs to the rear. The plate has a round central hole and surround; the field is divided into alternating blue and white enamel cells with recesses for additional circular studs. The points of the lozenge are provided with radiating knops. The underside of the rear pegs are knurled for grip. The fastener imitates the form of a class of 2nd century Roman lozenge plate brooches but lacks the central raised panel, which was probably attached by means of a stud passing through the central hole. Reference: Hattatt, R. Ancient Brooches and Other Artefacts, Oxford, 1989 item 1586-7. Good very fine condition. Provenance: found Wiltshire, UK.

Gilt copper-alloy, 46 grams, 67 mm. Circa 4th century AD. A late, gilded copper-alloy and niello inlaid Roman crossbow brooch of evolved form; its ridged cross-bar decorated with collared onion-shaped finials; a third onion-shaped feature above the junction with the bow; the bow itself once decorated with inlaid niello; below a narrow collar, a rectangular footplate with integral catchplate; the upper surface of the footplate decorated with facets, horizontal channels and further inlaid niello. Reference: cf. Hattatt, R. Ancient and Romano-British Brooches, Oxford, 1982, p.122-3 item 104. Very fine, complete with pin and much of the original gilding. Provenance: ex Lord McAlpine collection.

Silver, 10.52 grams, 29.32 mm. Circa 1st to 2nd century AD. A small silver trumpet-type brooch. Very fine condition, majority of the pin remaining. Provenance: property of a deceased detectorist, found circa 1970s, with old sales ticket.

Silver, 11.65 grams, 38.37 mm. Circa 1st to 2nd century AD. A small silver trumpet-type brooch. Very fine condition, pin lost in antiquity. Provenance: property of a deceased detectorist, found circa 1970s, with old sales ticket.

Copper-alloy, 10.78 grams, 55.86 mm. Circa early 3rd century AD. A cast copper-alloy bow brooch formed with a rectangular-section bow and ribbed underside above a D-section footplate recurved behind to form a shallow catchplate. The headplate is decorated with two lateral knops and a third above; the sprung pin is attached to the lateral knops. The upper face of the bow is decorated with a small engraved human mask. This form of brooch developed into the later Roman crossbow brooch which gave rise to the Anglo-Saxon small-long series of brooches. Reference: Hattatt, R. Iron Age and Roman Brooches, Oxford, 1985, item 488. Very fine condition, complete. Provenance: from an old English collection.

Silver, 6.26 grams, 38.57 mm. 2nd-3rd century AD. The Roman 'sandal sole' brooch is a northern European type of plate brooch, with a hinged pin and a chain loop at the heel. The shape mimics the outline of a military sandal sole with studs in place. The narrow outer border contains a panel of black-streaked red enamel; the toe is unusual in being very narrow and pointed whereas most types are rounded, and the studs are silver instead of the usual glass. The pin and catchplate are both present on the reverse. Reference: Hattatt, R. Brooches of Antiquity, Oxford, 1987 p.220-1, item 1142. Extremely fine condition. Provenance: from an old English collection, found in 1984 and recorded with Scunthorpe Museum by Kevin Leahy. This item is accompanied by an XRF ancient metal test certificate from Oxford X-ray Fluorescence Ltd.

Copper-alloy, 6.46 grams, 27.75 mm. Circa 2nd century AD. The flat disc with a raised central boss. The disc very fine millefiori enamelled in two bands. The top face of the boss showing traces of enamel. The reverse with a hinged pin and catchplate. Reference: Richard Hattatt Brooches of Antiquity, number 1052. A fine brooch. Provenance: from an old London collection.

Copper-alloy, 2.99 grams, 19.22 mm diameter. Circa 2nd century AD. The circular plate with inner and outer borders and with six raised pellets within the outer ring. The outer ring and centre is recessed and has traces of red enamel at the centre. Reference: Richard Hattatt Iron Age and Roman Brooches, number 521A. Without the pin but attractive. Provenance: found Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England.

Silver & copper-alloy, 28.75 grams, 58.53 mm. Roman brooch with copper-alloy pin and spring; circa 2nd century AD. The form is derived from the 'trumpet' type and this example is very similar to brooches found at Pannonia; with simplified semi-circular head and a large corresponding projection at the centre. The foot terminal is enhanced with a small moulded panel and plain catchplate; this last showing some minor damage. The one-piece spring and pin assembly passes through a central projection at the rear of the brooch head. Reference: Iron Age and Roman Brooches by Richard Hattatt, figure 28, for similar pieces. Very fine condition. This item is accompanied by an XRF ancient metal test certificate from Oxford X-ray Fluorescence Ltd.

Silver, 24.66 grams, 62.57 mm. Circa 5th-6th century AD. A beautifully preserved silver crossbow brooch from the Merovingian Period. The crossbar has two diamond-section terminals which retain the double-coiled spring which extends into the pin, resting behind the catchplate. The bow connects to the cross bar between the spring coils and is formed with lateral ribs forming a v-section central groove. A transverse bar forms a broad-armed cross with and expanding tail, which returns behind the face-plate to form the catchplate. This type of brooch originates from the East Germanic re-settlers of the Black Sea coastal regions in the 5th-6th centuries AD. Reference: Ribakov, B.A., Makarova, T.I. & Pletneva, S.A. Crimea, the North - East Black Sea Coast and Transcaucasia to an Epoch of the Middle Ages catalogue items. III.8.1, 13.3.3. Extremely fine condition. Ex old European collection.

Silver, 4.94 grams; 40.19 mm. Circa 2nd-3rd century AD. A P-shaped bow brooch with a returned foot, finished by being beaten into wire and wraped around the bottom of the bow. Ref: A Catalogue of Ancient Brooches by Richard Hattatt, no 487, 1243, 1247. Complete with pin and in very fine condition. From an old English collection.

Silver, 6.00 grams, 51.12 mm. Circa 4th Century A.D. Semi-circular in profile, with a circular section, the circular leg is extended to the same length as the bow, the pin was lost in antiquity. The front of the cross bar is decorated with two protruding lumps and knobbed terminals. On top there is a further knob where the stud would be as on a Roman head stud brooch. Similar to Benet's, p129, R07 0404 which books at £500-600. Very Fine condition.