English: Copper alloy brooch. Cast plate brooch, depicting a Celtic horseman mounted on steed, Horse and Rider type, Mackreth type OBJECT 2.1b. A flat cast plate with cross-cut detailing of the rider's hair and the horse's mane and incised emphasis of the base of the mane. The body of the horse includes six cells of irregular trapezoid or curvilinear form, of which two, those closest to the rider and perhaps representing part of his body or costume, retain brick red enamel. The back of the brooch retains a two coil drawn wire spring wrapped around and perhaps passing through a U-shaped lug and a folded U shaped catch plate. The posture of horse and rider, with the rider leaning back and both the front and back legs of the horse bent, might suggest the act of reigning in a spirited mount. Mackreth (2012, volume 1 pages 182, 241-2) suggests that horse and rider brooches denoted membership of a cult whose centres included temples in the West Country and East Anglia, but isolated examples such as this are more likely to illustrate occasional losses by well-travelled devotees rather than the further extent of strong cultic influence. Suggested date: Late Roman, 190-425.

Length: 29.1mm, Height: 22.5mm, Thickness (plate): 2.1mm, Weight: 4.41gms