Antik romer bronze Diskfibula med glasindlæg - 22 mm (Ingen mindstepris)

Ancient Roman Bronze Disc Fibula with Glass Inlay
Culture / Period: Ancient Roman
Date / Period: 1st – 2nd Century A.D.
Material: Bronze with glass inlay
Dimensions: 22 mm

Condition: Good condition, with patina and surface wear consistent with age; glass inlay partially preserved
No shipping outside the European Union. Due to complex export regulations concerning cultural goods, this item cannot be shipped outside the EU. Please ensure you have a delivery address within the European Union before placing a bid.
Provenance information:
Object Registration ID: 79

The current owner purchased the Ancient Roman bronze fibula with glass pasta from a private collector, N.N., in Tilburg.
The previous owner, a private collector, N.N. from Tilburg (the Netherlands), stated that the object had been in his collection since an unknown date.
According to the previous owner, the object had previously been in a private collection in the Netherlands since the 1980s.
No further information concerning the earlier ownership history of the object is available.

Background Information:
This object is a Roman bronze disc fibula, a type of brooch used to fasten garments. Fibulae were an essential part of dress in the Roman world, functioning both as practical fasteners and as decorative elements that reflected personal taste, identity, and social status.

The present example features a circular plate with a central decorative inlay composed of coloured glass, often referred to as glass paste. The design forms a stylised floral or rosette motif, created through the arrangement of differently coloured segments. This type of decoration was popular in the Early Imperial period, combining metalwork with glass craftsmanship to produce visually striking ornaments.

Around the edge of the disc are small rounded projections, which add to the decorative complexity of the piece and frame the central motif. The use of glass inlays demonstrates a developed level of craftsmanship, where artisans combined casting techniques with the careful insertion of coloured materials to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the object.

Fibulae of this type were worn on clothing such as cloaks, tunics, or mantles, securing fabric while also serving as visible accessories. They were used by both men and women across different regions of the Roman Empire. Such items are commonly found in domestic, military, and funerary contexts, indicating their widespread use in daily life.

The production of bronze fibulae with glass inlays reflects organised workshop traditions within the Roman world. These objects were produced and distributed across large areas through established trade networks. Such vessels and ornaments were traded across large distances, reaching regions such as present-day Germany and the Netherlands.
Dating to the 1st–2nd century A.D., this fibula belongs to a period of strong cultural integration within the Roman Empire, when styles and techniques circulated widely and were adapted in both central and provincial workshops.

This piece provides a direct and physical link to Roman dress and personal adornment. It forms a tangible connection to the ancient world, where objects of this kind combined practical function with decorative expression and were part of everyday life.