Brooch · Roman Empire
Trumpet brooch
50–200 CE, Roman
The trumpet brooch is the Romano-British bow brooch of the late first and second centuries CE, with a head that flares like a trumpet mouth and a moulded knop mid-bow, often enamelled. It was worn across northern Britain and the military zone. It is a favourite of British detector finds.
| Object | Brooch |
|---|---|
| Dates | 50–200 CE |
| Period | Roman Empire |
| Cultures | Roman |
| Regions | Europe — Northern & British Isles |
Diagnostic traits
Romano-British brooch with a bow that flares like a trumpet mouth at the head and a moulded knop mid-bow; often enamelled.
Identification
The trumpet head and acanthus knop distinguish it from the headstud and Polden Hill brooches of the same period; Collingwood types R and Rii date the sequence. Enamel in red and blue survives on some. A loop at the head held a chain.
Reproductions and fakes
Reproduced for jewellery and sold as ancient; genuine brooches show wear and a stratified patina. Enamel on fakes is glassy and complete.
Elsewhere
- Wikidata: Q111710815
Cite this article
Stratum Strata. "Trumpet brooch" (Artifact type). Stratum Strata pack 2026.09, as of 2026-09-21. https://stratum.black/strata/types/trumpet-brooch. Accessed 2026-09-21.
@misc{stratum-trumpet-brooch,
title = {Trumpet brooch},
author = {{Stratum Strata}},
howpublished = {\url{https://stratum.black/strata/types/trumpet-brooch}},
year = {2026},
note = {Artifact type article, Stratum Strata pack 2026.09, as of 2026-09-21; sources: stratum, wikidata, commons. Accessed 2026-09-21.}
} Citations carry the pack version and the article's as-of date so they resolve to the same text later. The facts themselves belong to the sources listed below; cite those for the science.