Crossbow fibula with vegetal ornament on the catchplate / Anonymous Gallo-Roman
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About this Item
Record Details
- Accession Number
- 1966/2.17
- Title
- Crossbow fibula with vegetal ornament on the catchplate
- Artist
- Anonymous Gallo-Roman
- Medium and Support
- gilt bronze
- Object Creation Date
- 450-500
- Object Creation Place
- Europe (continent)
- Gaul (historical region)
- Creation Place 1
- Europe (continent)
- Creation Place 2
- Gaul (historical region)
- Credit Line
- Gift of Mr. Robert H. Tannahill
- Style/Group/Movement
- Early Medieval
- Dimensions
- 9.84 cm (3 7/8 in.)
- Century
- 5th century
- Primary Object Classification
- Metalwork
- Primary Object Type
- fibula
- Secondary Object Classification
- Jewelry
- Secondary Object Type
- personal adornment
- Physical Description
- This fibula, a type of brooch used to pin outer garments, features a crossbar that ends in three onion-shaped terminals, which give the fibula a shape reminiscent of a crossbow. An arched bow connects the crossbar to the longer catchplate, which is ornamented with vegetal motifs.
- Subject Matter
- Crossbow fibulae, a type of brooch whose name derives from its resemblance to the much-later weapon, were used by men to pin an outer robe at the right shoulder. The folds of the robe were gathered beneath the arched bow segment of the fibula above the trilobed crossbar and held in place by a pin, while the longer catchplate projected vertically above the shoulder. During the fourth through sixth centuries men, typically of Germanic origin, who were granted an official position in the Roman Empire wore such fibula to communicate this important social distinction.
- Primary Keywords
- bronze (metal)
- brooches
- early medieval
- fashion
- gaul (historical region)
- gilding
- roman empire (former nation/state/empire)
- Secondary Keywords
- additive and joining processes and techniques
- associated concepts
- copper alloy
- copper and copper alloy
- costume
- costume accessories
- costume accessories worn
- culture and related concepts
- culture-related concepts
- descriptors
- europe (continent)
- european
- european styles and periods
- geographic and political locations
- inorganic material
- jewelry
- jewelry by location
- jewelry worn on costume
- materials
- materials by composition
- medieval
- medieval styles and periods
- metal
- metal and metal products
- metal by composition or origin
- metallizing
- nonferrous metal
- objects we use
- people and culture
- pins (jewelry)
- processes and techniques
- processes and techniques by specific type
- styles and periods
- styles and periods by region
- surface covering processes and techniques
- Rights
- If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit https://umma.umich.edu/about/services/request-image/ for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.
Technical Details
- Collection
- University of Michigan Museum of Art
- Image Size
- 467 x 853
- File Size
- 33 KB
- Record
- 1966/2.17
- Link to this Item
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-1966-sl-2.17/1966_2.17.jpg
Rights and Permissions
Related Links
Portfolios
IIIF
- Manifest
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/i/image/api/manifest/musart:1966-SL-2.17:1966_2.17.JPG
Cite this Item
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- Full citation
-
"Crossbow fibula with vegetal ornament on the catchplate; Anonymous Gallo-Roman." In the digital collection University of Michigan Museum of Art. https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-1966-sl-2.17/1966_2.17.jpg. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 19, 2024.