In the cultures of ancient Greece and Rome, fibulae (or brooches) were originally used for fastening garments. They came in a variety of shapes, but all were based on the safety pin principle. The crossbow design reached the height of its popularity both in Italy and the Western European provinces at a later stage in the Empire’s history. Worn almost exclusively by men, the crossbow brooch came to represent civil and military authority, with famous late Roman generals such as Stilicho having been depicted wearing crossbow fibulae. Simpler versions made with cheaper materials were then popularised by Roman soldiers, thus allowing for their spread into the provinces where they became a staple of Romano-Celtic fibula design.
Roman Bronze Crossbow Brooch
£ 195.00
A fine Roman bronze crossbow brooch featuring a D-shaped arched bow and a short, flattened foot. The cross-bar is adorned with three small domed knobs, one at either end and a final knob brought forward from the cross-bar and applied to the bow. A deep grove decorates the bow and the bottom has been moulded into a bell shape. A fragment of the original pin hangs loosely from the hinge. The foot of the brooch is undecorated. Traces of gilding enrich the surface. Green patination covers some of the surface with a few signs of general wear consistent with age such a minor scratches and chips.
Provenance: From an important European private collection, 1980s-2000s.
Condition: Good condition, patina visible to the surface. The original pin has broken leaving a fragment on the crossbow.
In stock
| Weight | 10.7 g |
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| Dimensions | L 6.2 x W 3.8 cm |
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