Roman Jewellery Headstud Type Bronze Brooch c2nd Century

Description

Heading: Roman Jewellery – Headstud type bronze brooch or fibula

Material: Bronze

Period: Roman imperial

Date: 1st to 2nd century

Origin: Roman provinces

Condition: VF, pin is present and moves freely, but catch-plate is a little worn

Description: A bronze bow type brooch or fibula with short decorated wings and a chain loop, it is also decorated with a headstud and a line of lozenges along the middle of the bow. Pin is unusually still present and movable.

Size and Weight: 48mm, 14.3g 

References: cf. Hattatt’s ‘Ancient Brooches’ p332/333

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 as then had yet to be invented. This type of brooch was an adapted plate brooch and their ornamentation indicated a degree of affluence by the wearer and their delicate structure points at them being used on equally delicate expensive fabric.

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