Ancient Roman Bronze Crossbow Fibula – Pröttel Type 3-4, associated with Military Officers - 82 mm (No reserve price)

Ancient Roman Bronze Crossbow Fibula (Zwiebelknopffibel) – Pröttel Type 3–4, Associated with Military Officers

Culture / Period: Ancient Roman
Date / Period: 4th–5th century A.D.
Material: Bronze
Dimensions: 82 mm
Condition: Good condition. The pin has been repaired and remains attached.

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Provenance information:
Object Registration ID: 868

The current owner (S.N.J. S.) purchased the Crossbow Fibula – Pröttel Type 3–4, associated with Military Officers from S.B. in Groningen.

The previous owner, S.B. from Groningen (The Netherlands), stated that the object had been in his collection since 1990.

According to the previous owner, the object had previously been in a private collection in The Netherlands before 1990.

No further information concerning the earlier ownership history of the object was available from the previous owner.

Background Information:
This bronze crossbow fibula, also known as a Zwiebelknopffibel ("onion-knob fibula"), belongs to one of the most distinctive categories of dress accessories from the Late Roman Empire. The type first appeared during the late 3rd century A.D. and remained in widespread use throughout the 4th and early 5th centuries. Its modern name derives from the arched bow and the three prominent onion-shaped terminals, which together resemble the outline of a drawn crossbow.

The present example can be attributed to Keller Type III and Pröttel Type 3–4, a well-established typological group dating primarily to the first half of the 4th century A.D., particularly during the reign of Constantine the Great and his successors. Characteristic features include the robust arched bow, three onion-shaped terminals, and an elongated foot decorated with moulded geometric ornament. Such fibulae were cast in specialised workshops throughout the Roman Empire, reflecting the highly organised craftsmanship and standardised production characteristic of the Late Roman state.

Crossbow fibulae became important symbols of rank and authority during the Late Roman period. By the 4th century A.D., examples of Keller Type III / Pröttel Type 3–4 were closely associated with military officers, senior commanders, and high-ranking imperial officials. They are frequently depicted on statues, consular diptychs, mosaics, and official portraits portraying generals and members of the imperial court. More than simple garment fasteners, these brooches functioned as visible insignia of office and social standing within the military and civil administration.

In everyday use, the fibula secured heavy cloaks such as the chlamys or sagum, garments commonly worn by military personnel and imperial administrators. The pin passed through several layers of fabric before engaging the catch plate, providing both secure fastening and an unmistakable display of official rank.

Examples of this type have been recovered throughout the Roman world, from Britain and Gaul to the Danubian frontier, the Balkans, and the eastern provinces. Their broad distribution reflects the movement of Roman armies, government officials, and administrative personnel across the empire's extensive military and communication networks.

Dating to the period of Constantine I (A.D. 306–337), Constantine II, Constans, and Constantius II, this fibula belongs to a transformative era marked by military reforms, administrative centralisation, and the consolidation of Late Roman imperial identity. The pin has been repaired, demonstrating that the brooch remained valuable enough in antiquity or later to warrant restoration rather than replacement. It forms a tangible connection to the military and administrative elite who wore such prestigious insignia throughout the Late Roman Empire.