ROMAN MINIATURE OBJECT

200

An incomplete cast copper alloy stand of Roman date. Stands such as this have been interpreted as votive model altars and is one tier of a probable three tiered object. The altar is square in plan with a flat top and hollow base and four small worn knops projecting from each corner of the upper surface which would have allowed the stand to secure into holes in the legs of an upper tier. The sides of the object are decorated with a recessed square with a saltaire cross, the resulting cells of which are infilled with enamel. Six of the total 16 cells retain their red enamel and are the upper and lower cells of three of the squares.The metal has a mid brownish-green patina and is worn. The object is 12.3mm tall, 14.3mm wide, 1.9mm thick and weighs 6.1g.These stands have been variously interpreted as miniature tables, stools or altars and are associated with temples and many of the known examples have been found on fort sites.Similar examples have been recorded on the Portable Antiquities Scheme database as: LVPL-7FF030, NMS-38E334 and NARC-E42213.