"Ancient Roman Silver Highly Profiled Legionary Fibula Culture / Period: Ancient Roman Date / Period: 2nd century A.D. Material: Silver Dimensions: 43 mm Condition: Good condition 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: 134 The current owner purchased this Ancient Roman silver Highly Profiled Legionary Fibula from a private collector, S.B., in Groningen, the Netherlands. The previous owner, a private collector from Groningen, stated that the fibula had been part of his collection since 1990. According to the previous owner, the object had previously been in a private collection in the Netherlands. No further information concerning the earlier ownership history of the object was available. Background Information: Fibulae were essential elements of Roman dress and formed an important part of everyday clothing throughout the Roman Empire. These metal brooches were used to fasten cloaks, tunics, and other garments at a time when buttons were not yet commonly employed. Their practical function was combined with decorative and social significance, making them among the most characteristic personal objects of the Roman world. This example belongs to the group of highly profiled fibulae, a form that became particularly widespread during the Roman Imperial period. Such brooches are distinguished by their pronounced arched bow and carefully designed profile, reflecting the skilled metalworking traditions of Roman craftsmen. The manufacture of silver fibulae required considerable expertise, and the use of silver may indicate ownership by an individual of relatively elevated social standing or a desire for a more prestigious personal accessory than the more common bronze examples. Fibulae of this type are frequently associated with the Roman military. Legionaries and auxiliary soldiers commonly used brooches to secure their sagum, the military cloak that formed part of standard military dress. Examples have been recovered from legionary fortresses, frontier installations, and military settlements throughout the Empire, particularly along the limes, the extensive frontier system that marked the borders of Roman-controlled territories. Beyond their practical role, fibulae could also communicate aspects of personal identity, regional affiliation, and social status. For archaeologists, they are particularly valuable artefacts because their changing forms and styles often allow precise dating. As a result, they provide important evidence for Roman military presence, patterns of trade, and cultural interaction across different provinces of the Empire. Such objects were produced and distributed through well-established Roman manufacturing and trade networks, reaching regions across Europe, including present-day Germany, France, Britain, and the Netherlands. Their widespread distribution reflects the mobility of soldiers, merchants, and civilians within the Roman world during the 2nd century A.D. This silver fibula forms a tangible connection to the Roman Imperial period, when objects of this kind played a practical role in daily life while also reflecting the status and identity of their owners. It provides a direct and physical link to the people of antiquity who wore such items as part of their everyday attire."