EARLY MAN Celtic curves introduced into its ornamental circular discs, and also on account of the general form of the vessel/ which reminds one very forcibly of the Aylesford example. The Elveden sepulchral deposit also contained three earthenware vessels of excellent quality and belonging unquestionably to the same class of ware as that found at Aylesford, which, as Dr. Arthur Evans has demonstrated, is a fashion introduced from the region about the northern end of the Adriatic Sea. One of these was a reddish colour, and, though more globular in form, resembled the most delicately finished of the Aylesford vases in the double row of undulating striae that ornamented its body. Calcined bones found amongst the earth in which these relics lay evidently formed part of the funeral deposit placed here, as at Aylesford, some little depth below the surface of the ground. A bronze brooch of great beauty, of the type known as S-shaped, was discovered at Lakenheath, Suffolk, some years ago, and is now in the possession of Mr. S. G. Fenton.' The late Mr. J. Romilly Allen, who published an account of this brooch in The Reliquary of January 1907, points out that the form of this class of brooch seems to have been suggested by a dolphin, a sea-horse, or some kind of nondescript dragonesque creature, and although the shape has been modified by successive copying and making the two ends symmetrical, the eye, which is the most prominent feature, has survived in nearly all cases. The Lakenheath brooch was found on a skeleton, so there can be no doubt that it was buried as part of the personal ornaments of the dead. The bronze is well preserved, and the kind of ornamental forms introduced into the brooch can be seen precisely. The main outlines are in the form of broad, sweeping curves. At the terminations are curved trumpet-like expansions. In the open part of what may be called the thick part of the letter S is a circular-pierced ornament ingeniously produced by a combination of two trumpet-shaped pieces. The pin by which the brooch was attached to the garment still remains in a practically perfect state of preservation. The accompanying photograph shows the scheme of the ornament, which, it will be seen, is purely Late Celtic in character. The vigour of the whole design affords sufficient proof that we have here a charming piece of British jewellery in which no trace of Roman influence is to be found. In later forms of S-shaped brooches the ornament is more B^„^^^ FiNCER-Rmc generally carried out in enamels found near Mil- of red, yellow, blue, &c., rather denhall (enlarged) than by beauty of form, as in the Lakenheath example. Some ' ' beautiful examples were found Diagram of Bronze Ring Extended (fuU size) • For these reasons it has been repeatedly figured as a pure type of Late Celtic art before there was any admixture of Roman influence. ' The writer is indebted to Mr. Fenton for permission to examine this brooch, and take the accompanying photograph. 271
