English: An incomplete cast copper alloy Brooch of Early Iron Age (Late Halstatt period, c. 800 BC to c. 450 BC), of the Hull & Hawkes Class C, commonly referred to as Boat or Leech brooches.

Approximately 75% of the brooch is present, consisting of the main body & part of the coiled spring. The pin and catch plate are missing, presumably lost in antiquity.

The brooch is rhombus (diamond) shaped in plan, and crescent shaped in section. The brooch is hollow.. The brooch is plain and undecorated apart from three sets of two horizontal ribs at the head and foot of the brooch. Two coils of the spring are present, but the rest of the pin is missing.

It measures 87.81mm in length, 50.05mm wide and 65.37mm thick. The metal measures 1.34mm thick. The body of the brooch is 26.09mm deep. It weighs 101.1 grams.

The brooch is a mid to dark green colour, with an even surface patina. Some surface areas do appear to be polished, which is unusual.

The brooch is similar to the Hull & Hawkes type Class C, dated to the Late Halstatt Period, c.800 to c. 450 BC, although this example is one of the few to be recorded from England. The majority are Italian in origin. Hattatt has published an Italian example, which is similar to this one, although much higher decorated as #200 (Hattatt, 2000, 285, fig 144) from Italy.

The brooch has been photographed and drawn.

Reference:
Hattatt, R. 2000. A Visual Catalogue of Richard Hattatt's Ancient Brooches. Oxbow Books. Oxford.