100-200 AD. Roman. A rare silver bronze plate brooch in the form of a gladiator, wearing a narrow-crested helmet, and holding a sword and a curved rectangular shield, marking him out as a murmillo. The weight of the murmillo’s equipment meant that these were usually the strongest gladiators and they were commonly pitted against the net-wielding retiarius, a match which contrasted a heavily protected gladiator with a fast but lightly equipped one.The spring, pin and catch plate are well-preserved on the reverse. Brooches were an important element of Roman dress, used to fasten clothing but they also served as dress accessories in their own right. Thousands of different types and subtypes of Roman brooches are attested, and they seem to have played an important role in Roman people’s self-expression. This beautiful item may have once belonged to a gladiator, his trainer or perhaps an eager fan. For more information on Roman Brooches see Richard Hattatt. 2000. A Visual Catalogue of Richard Hattatt's Ancient Brooches. Oxbow Books. Excellent condition. Size: L:38mm / W:17mm ; 4.9g; Provenance: Property of a London gallery, previously in old British collection formed in the 1970s.