File:Roman zoomorphic brooch (fish) (FindID 248679).jpg

English: An incomplete cast copper-alloy zoomorphic Roman plate brooch in the form of a fish. The losses are confined to the lower surface on which the catchplate and pin lug are both abraded and the pin lost.

The plate is flat by nature, but slightly curved in profile as a result of old damage, with the tail bent upwards somewhat in particular. The body is of pointed oval shape with a triangular tail. Just beyond halfway, on the tail side, are sub-triangular protrusions on both sides: a dorsal fin and a pectoral fin. At the head is a recessed annulet eye retaining some blue enamel. Beyond is a semi-circular cell (a gill?), again retaining blue enamelling. Beyond this there is a long recess on each side which follows the curvature of the body until nearly the end of the tail. Further traces of blue enamelling remain in this recess towards the back of each lateral fin. Along the central raised area thus created are a number of incised chevrons that point towards the head. At the tail end is a small 'lentoid'-shaped cell.

The lower surface is flat, except for the pin lug and catchplate. The pin lug, towards the back of the lateral fins, is semi-circular. It has abraded around its perforation, as stated above; the latter appears to contain iron corrosion product. A stub of the catchplate, at the head end, has a length of 7.35mm and a width of 1.4mm.

A similar example from the Lincolnshire/Humberside border can be found illustrated in Hattatt (2000, 362; ref. 1198). This brooch has a mid-green patina overall but is also slightly corroded in places.