brooch
- Museum number
- 1924,0502.7
- Description
-
Silver crossbow-brooch with three knobs at the head-end and niello decoration on the bow.
Andrási 2008
Small silver brooch of crossbow type. The bow is decorated with a running chevron pattern inlaid with niello, and the relatively short, narrow foot has two pairs of cross mouldings and lightly chamfered sides at the tip. The catchplate is a simple, open one. The simple tubular cross-bar terminates in very small rounded knobs, and the central knob terminal is also small, though slightly pointed.
- Production date
- 3rdC(late)-4thC(early)
- Dimensions
-
Length: 5.80 centimetres
-
Weight: 7.82 grammes
-
Width: 3.10 centimetres (of head)
- Curator's comments
- Andrási 2008
It is a type which was found throughout the Empire in the 4th century ad, and, unlike most earlier fibula types, was quite often made in gold, silver or gilded bronze, as well as plain bronze. It was, indeed, the only fibula type which was commonly used in the Late-Roman period. The silver specimen in this collection has all the typical features of an early example in the type-series: it is small and slender, has a short, narrow foot, small knob terminals and a simple, open catchplate. Later crossbow-brooches are larger, often excessively so, with proportionately longer and wider feet, very large knob terminals, and often have elaborate decoration and an ingenious fastening mechanism.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1923 (?)
- Department
- Greek and Roman
- Registration number
- 1924,0502.7
- Additional IDs
-
Miscellaneous number: 193 (old cat. no.)
