Ancient Roman silver Legionary Knee Fibula - 41 mm

"Ancient Roman Silver Legionary Knee Fibula

Culture / Period: Ancient Roman
Date / Period: 2nd century A.D.
Material: Silver
Dimensions: 41 mm
Condition: Good condition

No shipping outside theopean 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 theopean Union before placing a bid.

Provenance information:
Object Registration ID: 139

The current owner purchased this Ancient Roman Silver Legionary Knee 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 components of clothing throughout the Roman Empire and were used to fasten cloaks, tunics, and other garments. In a period when buttons were rarely employed, these brooches served a practical purpose while also functioning as decorative items that could reflect the social status, identity, and personal taste of the wearer.

This example belongs to the group known as knee fibulae, a distinctive brooch type characterized by its angular bow, which resembles a bent knee when viewed in profile. Knee fibulae became especially popular during the 2nd century A.D. and are among the most recognizable forms of Roman Imperial brooches. Their sturdy and compact construction made them particularly effective for securing heavier garments, including cloaks worn in both civilian and military settings.

The type is frequently associated with the Roman military. Legionaries and auxiliary soldiers commonly wore fibulae to secure the sagum, the military cloak that formed part of standard Roman military dress. Archaeological examples have been recovered from legionary fortresses, frontier installations, and military settlements across the Empire, particularly along the Rhine and Danube frontiers. Their distribution demonstrates the close relationship between this fibula type and Roman military communities.

The use of silver distinguishes this piece from the more commonly encountered bronze examples. Silver fibulae may have been owned by individuals of greater means or selected for their more prestigious appearance. Their manufacture required considerable skill and reflects the sophisticated metalworking traditions that flourished throughout the Roman world during the Imperial period.

Roman fibulae were produced in specialised workshops and circulated through extensive military supply systems and commercial trade networks. The movement of soldiers, merchants, and travellers facilitated the spread of such objects across large parts ofope. Similar examples have been found throughout the western and northern provinces of the Empire. Such objects were traded across large distances, reaching regions such as present-day Germany and the Netherlands.

For archaeologists, fibulae are particularly important because their forms evolved over time, allowing them to be used as reliable chronological indicators. They provide valuable evidence for Roman military activity, trade connections, and cultural exchange between different regions of the Empire.

Dating to the 2nd century A.D., during the height of the Roman Imperial period, this silver knee fibula represents both a practical item of dress and a product of a highly developed manufacturing tradition. It forms a tangible connection to the ancient world, in which objects of this kind played a practical role in daily use. This piece provides a direct and physical link to the people of antiquity who wore such brooches as part of their everyday lives."