Ancient Roman Silver Battle Axe Fibula / Brooch
11
days
21
hours
36
minutes
45
seconds
Current bid
€ 1
Reserve price not met
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Selected by Peter Reynaers
Has nearly 30 years’ experience and moderated multiple online art research groups.
Estimate € 300 - € 380
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 Bidder 7459 | €1 |
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Ancient Roman silver fibula in the shape of a battle axe, 35 × 18 mm, from the 1st–3rd century AD, in good condition with hinge and catchplate preserved but the pin missing, acquired in 2024 from the Netherlands from a dealer at a fair.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Attention: due to customs regulations we can only ship inside the European Union. Please ensure you have a valid EU shipping address before placing a bid.
A finely crafted Roman silver fibula in the shape of a miniature battle axe, featuring a long, tapering handle and a broad, triangular blade. The axe head is carefully modelled, with subtle incised detailing at the junction between the haft and the blade.
This type of brooch, produced with Roman metalworking techniques, reflects influences from the Germanic frontier regions where the axe was a powerful symbol of strength and warfare. Such pieces were likely worn by individuals living along the borders of the Empire, blending Roman craftsmanship with Germanic martial imagery.
Size: ± 35 x 18 mm
Very good and solid condition. The hinge and catchplate are preserved on the reverse, though the pin is no longer present. The surface retains traces of original polish with areas of dark patina.
Certificate of Authenticity: available upon request (pdf-format).
Ancient Romans appreciated complex jewellery designs and used a wide range of materials. Fibulae were worn by both men and women, often richly decorated. Fibulae are found in a large variety of styles, from strictly functional to very elaborate designs with colourful enamels or incorporating zoomorphic figures.
The lower classed Romans used imitations of glass or various metal alloys to reduce the cost of manufacture while displaying their social status.
Roman men typically wore one or more finger rings and fibulae. Jewellery was of particular importance to women in Roman society. They had the right to buy, sell or barter their jewellery independently as it was considered their own personal property. Jewellery for children not only showed the wealth and social status of the parents, it often included amulets to protect the children from illness and ward off evil forces.
Seller's Story
Please read our information carefully.
*SHIPPING INFO Due to insurance procedures, combined shipping is only possible with a single payment. (1 payment reference = 1 insured parcel.) If you accept an offer after the auction and pay separately, shipments cannot be manually combined afterward. Please ensure your shipping address is complete and correct before paying. Changes made after payment are not automatically forwarded to us.
* CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY (COA) For insurance purposes we can provide a digital Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) for every item with a hammer price of Euro 100 or more. The COA is available upon request within 20 days of the auction date. Instructions will be provided when your order is shipped. Certificates are not included in the package.
* INSURANCE & CLAIMS All our parcels are shipped with external insurance. This insurance requires the following:
-> Monitor the online tracking and notify delays to the seller within 14 days after the shipping date.
-> In case of damage: write a reservation on the delivery note and report the damage to the seller via the Catawiki online chat within 24 hours. Keep all packaging and send us photos of the damage.
* IMPORTANT BUYERS OUTSIDE THE EU: We cannot ship to countries outside the European Union. Please ensure you have an EU shipping address before bidding. No exceptions can be made. Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom are not part of the EU.
* DOCUMENTATION NOTICE: Previous invoices and import/export documents will not be shared with customers.
----------------------
Thank you for your interest, and best of luck with your bids!
Attention: due to customs regulations we can only ship inside the European Union. Please ensure you have a valid EU shipping address before placing a bid.
A finely crafted Roman silver fibula in the shape of a miniature battle axe, featuring a long, tapering handle and a broad, triangular blade. The axe head is carefully modelled, with subtle incised detailing at the junction between the haft and the blade.
This type of brooch, produced with Roman metalworking techniques, reflects influences from the Germanic frontier regions where the axe was a powerful symbol of strength and warfare. Such pieces were likely worn by individuals living along the borders of the Empire, blending Roman craftsmanship with Germanic martial imagery.
Size: ± 35 x 18 mm
Very good and solid condition. The hinge and catchplate are preserved on the reverse, though the pin is no longer present. The surface retains traces of original polish with areas of dark patina.
Certificate of Authenticity: available upon request (pdf-format).
Ancient Romans appreciated complex jewellery designs and used a wide range of materials. Fibulae were worn by both men and women, often richly decorated. Fibulae are found in a large variety of styles, from strictly functional to very elaborate designs with colourful enamels or incorporating zoomorphic figures.
The lower classed Romans used imitations of glass or various metal alloys to reduce the cost of manufacture while displaying their social status.
Roman men typically wore one or more finger rings and fibulae. Jewellery was of particular importance to women in Roman society. They had the right to buy, sell or barter their jewellery independently as it was considered their own personal property. Jewellery for children not only showed the wealth and social status of the parents, it often included amulets to protect the children from illness and ward off evil forces.
Seller's Story
Please read our information carefully.
*SHIPPING INFO Due to insurance procedures, combined shipping is only possible with a single payment. (1 payment reference = 1 insured parcel.) If you accept an offer after the auction and pay separately, shipments cannot be manually combined afterward. Please ensure your shipping address is complete and correct before paying. Changes made after payment are not automatically forwarded to us.
* CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY (COA) For insurance purposes we can provide a digital Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) for every item with a hammer price of Euro 100 or more. The COA is available upon request within 20 days of the auction date. Instructions will be provided when your order is shipped. Certificates are not included in the package.
* INSURANCE & CLAIMS All our parcels are shipped with external insurance. This insurance requires the following:
-> Monitor the online tracking and notify delays to the seller within 14 days after the shipping date.
-> In case of damage: write a reservation on the delivery note and report the damage to the seller via the Catawiki online chat within 24 hours. Keep all packaging and send us photos of the damage.
* IMPORTANT BUYERS OUTSIDE THE EU: We cannot ship to countries outside the European Union. Please ensure you have an EU shipping address before bidding. No exceptions can be made. Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom are not part of the EU.
* DOCUMENTATION NOTICE: Previous invoices and import/export documents will not be shared with customers.
----------------------
Thank you for your interest, and best of luck with your bids!
Details
Culture
Ancient Roman
Century/ Timeframe
1st-3rd century AD
Name of object
Battle Axe Fibula / Brooch
Acquired from
Dealer at a fair
Year acquired
2024
Material
Silver
Country acquired from
Netherlands
Condition
Good
Previous owner acquired from
Dealer at a fair
Previous owner - year acquired
2024
Previous owner - country acquired from
Netherlands
I verify that I have obtained this object legally and that I am allowed to sell it
Yes
Sold by
Disclaimer
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
