Material: Bronze with tinned surface

Period: Roman Imperial period

Date: AD 100-300

Origin: Roman provinces, possibly Romano-British, rare.

Condition: VF, silver tinning largely in place, pin missing but catch-plate present. Professionally cleaned

Description: A scarce bronze plate fibula with horses heads forming a tetraskelion or 'swastika' shape.  

Size and Weight: 37.4mm, 3.5g

Features and Provenance: Brooches as clothes fasteners have been made since the bronze age. As skills and metallurgy advanced, so did the size and detail of the fibulae. They were still used by the Romans, as buttons had yet to be invented. This type of zoomorphic brooch is thought to be relate to thunder bolts and as such would be associated with the god Jupiter. The pin, very often missing, was probably made from iron, therefore it was the first thing to succumb to the elements. The alternative name for this brooch is the 'swastika' which is a Sanskrit word for 'well-being' and in this direction would have been a Hindu symbol of the sun.

Condition Summary. This varies with the age of the artefact and there are grades between

Extremely Fine (EF). Very slight traces of wear, all parts of pattern etc present, visible and clear

Very Fine (VF). Some signs of wear on the higher parts of the relief, all parts of pattern etc present, but may be worn

Fine (F). Wear on the artefact and parts of item and pattern etc may be missing or not visible