File:Roman copper alloy zoomorphic plate brooch (FindID 494980).jpg

English: A Roman, copper alloy horse and rider brooch, measuring 18.25mm in length, 16.11mm in width, and 4.36mm in depth. The brooch weighs 1.13 grams, and is missing the head of the rider, as well as the rear portion of the horse and its legs.

The brooch depicts the profile of a horse and rider facing to the right. All that remains of the rider is his sub-triangular body, which contains two of the brooch's four cells. One of these cells, a linear cell running diagonally from the head of the rider to the body of the horse, is clearly indicative of the rider's arm, and has even attempted to suggest the rider's shoulder through the cell's curved end. This cell contains decorative red enamel. The second cell is positioned below the 'arm' and is a simple circular cell, with no obvious enamel remains.

The horse has a roughly shaped head with no detail. The remnant of the horse's front leg is posed ahead of the horse's body in such a manner as to suggest it were galloping forward. The two cells on the horse's body, a large elongated oval on the horse's chest and a linear cell running the length of what remains of its body, contain white enamel residue.

The reverse of the brooch is flat with little evidence of the pinning mechanism (most of which would have been positioned on the portion of the brooch which is missing), although the catchplate is visible and in fair condition.