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.