A beautiful Roman zoomorphic bronze brooch in the form of a hippocampus. A mythical sea monster with the upper body of a horse and the lower body of a fish. The body is inlaid with blue and red champlevé enamel - all of which remains. The equine head, neck and ear are modelled in high relief. The brooch is in excellent condition with all its original enamel remaining. The hinged pin normally missing on these brooches is a modern replacement but it has been sympathetically done in the exact same manner as the original. An unusually complete example of a very rare Roman brooch. Purchased from a private French collection.

Dimensions: 52 mm x 30 mm.

References: D. F. Mackreth, Brooches in Late Iron Age and Roman Britain. Plate 128. 8129. Nigel Mills, Celtic & Roman Artefacts: RC135. Benet's Artefacts of England & the United Kingdom, Third Edition: R07-0549.