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 green and red champlevé enamel - some of which remains. The equine head, neck and ear are modelled in high relief. The brooch is in excellent condition with some enamel remaining. Typically the hinged pin is missing but this is still 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.