Ancient Roman Bronze fibulae (No reserve price)

"Ancient Roman Bronze Fibulae – Two Decorative Brooches

Culture / Period: Ancient Roman
Date / Period: 1st–2nd century AD
Material: Bronze
Dimensions: 25–30 mm
Condition: Good condition, with age-related surface wear and natural brown and green patination. Both fibulae retain their distinctive shapes and decorative details. The fastening mechanisms are incomplete. See photographs for details.

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: 1068

The current owner (S.N.J. S.) purchased the two bronze fibulae from J.P. in Eijsden, the Netherlands.

The previous owner, J.P. from Eijsden (the Netherlands), stated that the objects had been in his collection since the 1990s.

According to the previous owner, the objects had previously been in a private collection in the Netherlands since the 1990s.

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

Background Information:

Fibulae were essential clothing accessories throughout the Roman Empire, serving as practical fasteners for cloaks, tunics and other garments. These two bronze examples display different decorative forms, illustrating the variety of metalwork associated with Roman personal dress during the 1st and 2nd centuries AD.

The first fibula features an openwork construction with parallel ribbed sections and a shaped terminal, reflecting the Roman preference for combining practical design with ornamental detail. The second example has a circular, penannular form with rolled terminals, characteristic of a long-established brooch tradition that continued into the Roman period.

During the Early Roman Imperial period, particularly under the Flavian, Trajanic and Hadrianic emperors, fibulae were worn by civilians and military personnel alike. Their designs could reflect regional traditions, personal preferences and changing fashions. In the northwestern provinces, Roman styles frequently developed alongside earlier Celtic metalworking traditions.

Bronze fibulae were produced by skilled craftsmen using casting, hammering and finishing techniques. Workshops manufactured numerous types, ranging from simple functional fasteners to elaborately decorated brooches. Comparable forms circulated throughout the Roman provinces, including present-day France, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands, demonstrating the exchange of craftsmanship and fashion across regional networks.

These two fibulae illustrate the diversity of Roman clothing accessories and the importance of personal adornment in everyday life. They provide a tangible connection to the ancient world, where objects of this kind combined practical fastening functions with individual style and established metalworking traditions."