Roman Metalwork: Bronze trumpet fibula
Inv. No.: 83.093
Provenance: London (Romano-British)
Date: second half 1st century AD
Height: 18mm
Length: 49mm
An example of a type of brooch that was developed in Britain in the first century AD from a continental precursor and was particularly popular in the second half of the first century and during the second century AD. The name derives from the shape of the head end of the bow, which resembles a flared trumpet mouth. This example conforms to the characteristics of early versions of the form as categorised by R. G. Collingwood [type R (i)] with plain mouldings on the bow that extend all the way around the bow, unlike later examples with plain mouldings only on the upper edge and sides of the bow and more ornate forms that have acanthus leaf decoration on the mouldings. (However, there is some controversy over the sequence of forms and consequent dating.) The group of three mouldings is situated in the middle or waist of the bow. The catch plate is a characteristic triangular shape with a curved inner edge, a flanged, straight upper edge and a curled gutter. At the end of the foot is a round knob set on a base with moulded rings. A flanged edge surrounds the flaring bow end or trumpet mouth. Beneath this is set the bilateral spring, held in place by an axis bar passing through the coils of the spring (two on each side) and a central cast lug. The chord connecting the sides of the spring passes in front of the assembly and is held in place by a hooked extension of the lug. The tapering pin continues on from the central coil on the left side of the brooch. Coils, chord and pin are made from round wire. The brooch has a shiny, dark greenish patina and is in very good condition.
Function:
A decorative clothes-fastener. This type of fibula was often worn in pairs connected by a chain attached to a head-loop on the brooch, although this is not a feature of this example.
Manufacture:
A two-piece brooch made from a cast bow and foot section and a forged pin. Some of the mouldings have been milled.
Decoration:
- The round knob at the foot end is set on a narrow ring moulding. Beneath this is a small neck with concave profile set on two narrow raised rings.
- The triple waist moulding on the bow consists of a central torus or wide convex ring framed on each side by a narrow raised ring, a wider concave neck and then a pair of narrow raised rings. The two outermost rings are milled.
- The flanged edge of the flaring end of the bow is also milled.
- The lower edge of the gutter is decorated with two sets of paired incised lines, one in the middle and the other near the inner edge.
Bibliography:
Collingwood, R. G. and I. Richmond, The Archaeology of Roman Britain, rev. ed., London and New York, 1969, 296-297 (Group R).
Hattatt, R., Ancient and Romano-British Brooches, Sherborne, Dorset Publishing Company, 1982, 35-43 (developmental history) and 104-108.
Johns, C., The Jewellery of Roman Britain: Celtic and Classical Traditions, London, UCL Press, 1996, 160-165.
Seaby Coin & Medal Bulletin, January 1982, V55 and March 1983, V134 (a).
Snape, M. E., Roman Brooches from North Britain: A classification and a catalogue of brooches from sites on the Stanegate, Oxford, British Archaeological Reports, British Series 235, 1993, 1-7, 16-17.
Wild, J. P., "How were Provincial-Roman Brooches worn?", Latomus, 24 (1965), 610-613.
Comparanda:
Collingwood, R. G. and I. Richmond, The Archaeology of Roman Britain, rev. ed., London and New York, 1969, Fig. 104, 46-48 [Group R (i)].
Hattatt, R., A Visual Catalogue of Richard Hattatt Ancient Brooches, Oxford, Oxbow, 2000, Fig. 186, 948 (shape).
Hattatt, R., Ancient and Romano-British Brooches, Sherborne, Dorset Publishing Company, 1982, Fig. 79 (typical early British trumpet fibula shape; 50-100 AD).
Hattatt, R., Iron Age and Roman Brooches: A second selection of brooches from the author collection, Oxford, Oxbow, 1985, Fig. 45, 438 A and B (similar but simplified shape and decoration).
Snape, M. E., Roman Brooches from North Britain: A classification and a catalogue of brooches from sites on the Stanegate, Oxford, British Archaeological Reports, British Series 235, 1993, Fig. 2, 4.1 ("Classification").