Collection record · Small worlds
Crossbow Fibula
The collection record classifies this work as jewelry. It is dated c. 350–400. Recorded culture or place: Gallo-Roman or Romano-British, Migration period, 4th century.
Explore the object recordOBJECT RECORD
A closer look at the details.
- Museum title
- Crossbow Fibula
- Date
- c. 350–400
- Culture / origin
- Gallo-Roman or Romano-British, Migration period, 4th century
- Materials and technique
- bronze, gilt-bronze, silver, and niello
- Dimensions
- Overall: 8.6 x 7 cm (3 3/8 x 2 3/4 in.)
- Artist / maker
- Not specified by the museum
- Museum
- The Cleveland Museum of Art
- Accession number
- 1930.225
FROM THE MUSEUM
In the museum’s words
The following description is reproduced from the Cleveland Museum of Art’s original English record.
A fibula was a garment clasp that functioned somewhat like a modern safety pin. Since buttons were not used in antiquity, fibulae were used to keep a cloak closed. They were worn by both men and women, commonly on the right shoulder, and produced in various sizes and shapes. Because they were highly visible accessories, they often received decorative gilding, inlay decoration, or "onion"- shaped domes. Crossbow fibulae were introduced by the Romans and are named for their resemblance to the weapon. Decorative and technical features of this group suggest they may have been made in Roman-occupied Britain.
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Text and image sources
The Cleveland Museum of Art · Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund · CC0
The summary is based on public collection data. Refer to the museum’s latest record for the title, date and attribution.
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