Round
Some of the round openwork fibulae incorporate Celtic trumpet style design, others do not.
with Central Ornament
Typology: Bojovic XXV.1 (or XXV.4 if Celtic trumpet design); Genceva 28a
Dates: c. AD 125 - 225.
Distribution: Pannonia, Raetia, Germany, Upper Moesia; Roman Limes
Notes: round openwork plate with symmetrical design incorporating a central part, often wheel-like.
Image: A broken openwork round fibula. This is a symmetrical design with a central element. The top quarter or so is missing due to damage. (SC collection)
Image: Round openwork fibula in wheel style. 35x35mm, 11,30g. (Quadrans collection)
Image: Round openwork fibula in spiral wheel style. 31,5x31,5mm, 8,99g. (Quadrans collection)
Image: An openwork wheel fibula with raised central hub. 30x30mm, 5,48g. (Quadrans collection.)
Image : Openwork "wheel" brooch, 2nd/3rd century AD, likely a Gallo-Roman local production (original fragment and photographic reconstruction). (Soldino collection)
with Complex Design
Typology: Bojovic XXV.2; Genceva 28b
Dates: c. AD 165 - 250
Notes: round opener plate with more ornate asymmetrical design, usually without a central part.
Symmetrical
Hollow
Typology:
Dates: c. AD 100 - 150
Distribution: Balkans
Notes: Hollow rhomboid (or diamond) is te most common design though others exist as well including star (see below).
Image: A rhomboid hollow openwork plate fibula. Its overall shape is similar to the solid version, the rhomboid geometric plate fibula. The pin is stuck in open position. 31,5x22mm, 3,11g. (Quadrans collection)
Image: Hollow star plate fibula. The star is made of eight curving segments and was entirely silvered. (SC collection)
Image: Reverse of the above fibula. The pin was held on with a bilateral (six wind) spring instead of a hinge. This is a common element in plate fibulae from Pannonia. (SC collection)
Celtic Trumpet Design
Typology: Jobst 31g; Böhme 46 b-c; Riha 3.18; Bojovic XXV.7;
Dates: c. AD 180 - 250
Distribution: Upper Germany, Raetia, Danube; Limes areas.
Notes: These openwork plates are made up of complex celtic trumpet style designs and are generally leaf-shaped or tear-drop shaped. They usually have a point at one end.
Image: Typical Celtic Trumpet Design openwork fibula. (SC collection)
Image: Another Celtic Trumpet style openwork fibula.
Image: Another Celtic Trumpet style openwork fibula. 37x28mm, 8,22g. (Quadrans collection)
Typology: Böhme 47; Genceva 31c
Dates: c. AD 175 - 225
Distribution: German Limes, but also found in Upper Danube region.
Image: Front and back of a Pelta form openwork plate fibula. The foot and catch bear resemblance to contemporary knee fibula types. The crescent holes resemble one style contemporary Roman military belt fittings. 41x31mm, 14,82g. (Quadrans collection)
Image: Another type Front and back of Pelta form openwork plate fibula, decorated with circles. 31x31mm, 9,95g. (Quadrans collection)
Swastika
Almgren pl. 10, 231
Genceva 32a, pl. XVIII, 1-2
Typology: fibula, plate fibula, openwork plate fibula, swastika fibula
References: Almgren 231; Böhme 49a; Genceva 32a, pl. 28, 1-2
Dates: c. AD 175 - 250
Distribution: Roman military camps.
Almgren pl. 10, 232 Genčeva 32b, pl. XXVIII, 3
Typology: Plate fibula, Roman plate fibula, openwork plate fibula, swastika fibula
References: Bojovic XXVII; Genceva 32b; Almgren 232; Matouschek-Novak 1981/82, Taf. 14, 53; Janovic 60; Riha -; Feugère-
Dates: c. AD 175 - 300, known as late as the early 4th century in Upper Moesia.
Distribution: Eastern Empire; Pannonia, the Moesias, Dacia (especially modern Serbia). Also used in Germanic lands. An especially high concentration have been found in northern Serbia in and around Novi Banovci, Roman Burgenae.
Image: A swastika fibula with the arms in the form of horse heads.
Image: Germanic Tribes, Horse Head Swastika Plate Fibula, c. 174 - 300 A.D.; cf. Bojovic XXVII; Genceva 32b; Matouschek-Novak 1981/82, Taf. 14, 53; Janovic 60; Riha -; Feugere -; 36.3 mm, 10.6g, Choice, green patina, pin missing, a clockwise swastika shaped brooch with each arm ending with a horse's head, jaw hing pin connection. This type is found in the former Eastern Empire, including Pannonia, Moesia, Dacia and in Germanic lands. An especially high concentration have been found in northern Serbia in and around Novi Banovci, Roman Burgenae. It is considered a Germanic type. The horse head swastika is believed to be a sun symbol. (ex FORVM AS71473).
Ornate Silver Swastika Fibulae
Typology: Plate fibula, Roman plate fibula, openwork plate fibula, swastika fibula, silver fibula
References: Almgren 234 - 235
Dates: c. 3rd century A.D.(?)
Distribution: Northern Europe
Almgren pl. 10, 233
Image: A complex openwork fibula. The design consists of five interconnected circles, linked to four rings (two of which are broken). It was likely silvered. The empty rings may have held stones, though this is uncertain. (SC collection)
References
Almgren, O.
Studien über nordeuropäische Fibelformen. (Liepzig, 1923).
PDFBohme, A. "Die Fibeln der Kastelle Saalburg und Zugmantel" in
Saalburg Jahrbuch, XXIX. (1972).
Bojovic, D.
Rimske Fibule Singidunuma. Muzej Grada Beograda Serija - Zbirke i Legati Katalog XII. (Belgrade, 1983).
Ettlinger, E.
Die römischen Fibeln in der Schweiz. (Bern, 1973).
Feugere, M. Les fibules en Gaule meridionale de la conquite a la fin du Ve sicle apres J.-C. (
Paris, 1985).
Available OnlineGenceva, E.
Les Fibules Romaines de Bulgarie de la fin du 1er s. av. J.-C. à la fin du VIe s. ap. J.-C. (Veliko Trnovo, 2004).
PDF Janovic, A.
Nakit u rimskoj Dardaniju. (Belgrade, 1978).
Jobst, W.
Die römischen Fibeln aus Lauriacum. (Linz, 1975).
Matouschek, J & H.
Novak.
"Unpublizierte Hasten- und Hundefibeln aus österreichischen
Privatsammlungen. Mit Nachtrag von Pferde- und Reiterfibeln" in
Römisches Österreich, 9/10, (1981 - 1982).
Riha, E.
Die römischen Fibeln aus Augst und Kaiseraugst. (1979).
PDF
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