East European Fibulae

! work in progress !

In Eastern Europe, particular brooch forms have developed, with descriptions predominantly in Russian or in other Eastern European languages. Eastern Europe in this case means Karelia, the Baltic countries, the Eastern European forest belt and the steppe zone down to the Black and Caspian Seas. The rivers Dnieper, Don, Volga and Oka are of particular importance.

A large percentage of the population lived as nomads until the Russian Empire took place, so that it is hardly possible to conclude a cultural origin on the basis of a finding area. In addition, there were always influences from the north, e.g. from the Varangians and their trade routes, from invading Asian peoples and also from the Orient. People often carried objects from other cultures with them, so that the cultural determination of a buried person isn�t possible often.

The Eastern European fibulae groups are:

East European champlev� enamels and related, time range: parallel to Roman enamel brooches, lasted a bit longer, reference: (work in progress)
"Slavic" Bow Fibulae (early Medieval period), source example: (work in progress)
Finno-Ugric penannular brooches and their developments (Syulgam / Syulgama) (ca. 8th century to Modern times)

Finno-Ugric penannular brooches and their developments (Syulgam / Syulgama)

During a few hundred years until the 8th century, small related ethic groups united and formed tribes in the North of what is now the European part of Russia. In the Mordvin area (now �Republic of Mordovia� and a part of the Russian Federation), two main and some smaller tribes evolved. The main tribes are Moksha and Erzya living in the lower Oka River region, with Muroma and Mari in their neighbourhood. They all speak their own languages until now and see themselves as different nations. The early states existed from the 10th to the second half of the 13th century, until the invasion of the mongols.

These peoples developed a rich jewellery tradition in which, among other things, the silversmithing of the Volga-Bugars and the "Permian animal style" played a role. Wandering Viking traders as well as the Kievan Rus settling further west had little significant influence, contrary to prevailing opinion in the West. The habit of false Viking attribution on the internet even affects pieces made in the last few centuries, so these forms must also be discussed.

The variety of Finno-Ugric brooches is noteworthy, but all types developed from the penannular types with coiled ends. Securing clothing took a back seat, most were used by women as jewellery or to fix pendants.

Fibulae with rolled up terminals

For some information on their history, see Baltic Sea penannular fibulae in the Viking fibulae section. The images below include specimen dating back to late Antiquity to illustrate that simple types didn�t change for ages. The double spiral one on the right already existed in the 2nd century AD.

Photos: State Historical Museum (SHM) Moscow, Digital Collection � terms of use from left to right:

SHM-Number GIM 107683/49 Russia, Rjasan region, 4th century

SHM-Number GIM 107416/213 Russia, Rjasan region, 5th century

SHM-Number GIM 91634/48 Russia, Nischni Nowgorod region, 11th - 14th century

SHM-Number GIM 107416/180 Russia, Rjasan region, end of the 5th century

SHM-Number GIM 107683/49 Russia, Nischni Nowgorod region, 13th - 18th century

Fibulae with elongated terminals

Actually, these are also penannular brooches with rolled terminals, because the long extended tubes are actually ends rolled into thin pipes. Worn by women and men for different purposes.

From left to right:

Zelentsova (2019): Western Volga region, first half of the 10th century.

SHM-Number GIM 79854/52 Russia, Pensa region, 13th - 14th century, silver with �winged pin�

SHM-Number GIM 25280/1369 Russia, Province of Tambov, 7th - 11th century, with remaining fragment of suspension plate

Sedov et al. (1987): drawing of a complete suspension plate with brooch, they were worn by women in pairs fixed just below the shoulders.

Fibulae with triangular terminals (Finno-Ugric, Moksha tribe)

These brooches, which can also be described as extended omega type is found in the Western Volga region and developed in the 13th century (see Madurov 2013). The granulation pattern remains on Volga Bulghar metal art, the brooches were probably created for Volga Finn customers by them. They started a mass production with granulation and filigree decoration that was cast. The designs remained unchanged for about 500 years and survived even the Mongol invasion. Small early types were worn by women and men, later decorated specimen by women only as singles below the throat.

It is often claimed that examples are known from the Baltic region and from the excavations at Staraia Ladoga and have been dated roughly to AD 750 - 1000, and at the same time were associated with the Viking Rus culture. But there is no Staraia Ladoga expedition that found such pieces there, otherwise they should be mentioned by Kirpichnikov (2004), for example; and the actual date of origin is well after the Viking Age and beyond their territory.

Although there are pieces made of silver alloys, by far the majority were made of copper layers stretched with lead, depending on the availability of suitable metals.

The group can be distinguished as follows:

Narrow, flattened terminals (sometimes with a triangular cross-section) with no or very little decoration.
Flat, triangular terminals with incisions
flat, triangular terminals with real or false (cast) granulation, mostly with 2-8 loops for pendants. Pieces without pendants are usually somewhat older.
flat, triangular terminals with real or false (cast) braided filigree, mostly with 2-8 loops for pendants. Pieces without pendants are usually somewhat older
interlocked terminals (modern type)

Narrow, flattened terminals

Photos: State Historical Museum (SHM) Moscow, Digital Collection � terms of use

from left to right:

SHM-Number GIM 91634/45 Russia, Nishni Nowgorod region, 11th - 14th century

SHM-Number GIM 101110/125 Russia, Kuibyshev region, 13th - 14th century

SHM-Number GIM 101110/25 Russia, Kuibyshev region, 13th - 14th century, silver

SHM-Number GIM 20445 Russia, Simbirsk province, 11th - 14th century, copper

Flat, triangular terminals with incisions

left: see Madurov 2013, fig. 1:1, 13th century

right: SHM-Number GIM 104294/53 Russia, Tambow province, 18th century, copper alloy

flat, triangular terminals with real or false (cast) granulation, mostly with 2-8 loops for pendants

Photos: State Historical Museum (SHM) Moscow, Digital Collection � terms of use

from left to right:

SHM-Number GIM 20404/1 Russia, Simbirsk region, 13th - 14th century, silver

SHM-Number GIM 96224/40 Russia, Mordwin Republic, 17th - 18th century

SHM-Number GIM 104294/51 Russia, Tambow region, 18th century, silver

SHM-Number GIM 96224/37 Russia, Mordwin Republic, 17th - 18th century

Syulgam complete with pin. Decorated with fake filigree and loops to attach pendants (glass beads, coins and other metal pendants and cowrie shells). Without the finding report, it t is not seriously possible to specify the time period when the piece was made (SC Collection)

Mordva-Moksha, Penza Province, syulgam and bracelets, time 1730-1750, metal, glass, cauro shells, coins

reference: Каталог выставки �Искусство мордовского народа� в рам- ках проекта �Искусство народов Поволжья�, октябрь - ноябрь 2012. - Казань: Заман, 2012. - (Exhibition catalogue "Art of the Mordovian people" within the project "Art of the Volga region peoples", October-November 2012. - Kazan: Zaman, 2012.) PDF

triangular terminals with real or false (cast) with wide filigree decoration

Photo: State Historical Museum (SHM) Moscow, Digital Collection � terms of use

SHM-Number GIM 104294/56 Russia, Tambow region, 18th century

Pennanular brooches with inlaid terminals (Erzya tribe)

This shape is remotely similar to the large Viking cloak brooches, which is why they are often confused with them. What they also have in common is that they are single brooches. However, they are also elaborately decorated and worn below the neck. They are also much younger.

Smooth and twisted rings occur, as well as single and double settings. The inlays are glass cabochons. Turquoise is common, but red, yellow, black and other colours were also used. Often they are missing and the terminals are flat. In these cases, the settings sat on clips and were lost.

Photo: State Historical Museum (SHM) Moscow, Digital Collection � terms of use

from left to right:

SHM-Number GIM 104478/211 Russia, Nishni Nowgorod region, 14th - 18th century

SHM-Number GIM 104478/204 Russia, Nishni Nowgorod region, 14th - 18th century

SHM-Number GIM 51830 Russia, Penza province, 18th century

Filigree rings

(work in progress)

Chest and belt plates

(work in progress)

References

Madurov, Dmitrij Fedorovič (2013): ПРЕДМЕТЫ ВАСИЛИЦКОГО КЛАДА. ИНТЕРПРЕТАЦИЯ (Objects of the Vasilitsky hoard. Interpretation). Матеріали науковой конференцii �Ювелірное мистецтво � погляд крёзь віки�. 12-14 ноября 2012 г. (Materials of scientific conference "Jewellery art - a look through times. November 12-14, 2012.). In Музейнi читания (Museum readings), pp. 183�193. Download

�lfv��ard�ttir, �sfr��r (2012): The Mysterious �Omega� Brooches. This document is based on two brief articles originally written for the newsletter of the Slavic Interest Group, Slovo, issues 60 and 63. Last edited 27 th May, 2012. PDF

Kirpichnikov, Anatoliy N. (2004): A Viking Period workshop in Staraya Ladoga, excavated in 1997. In Fornv�nnen : journal of Swedish antiquarian research 99 (2004), pp. 183�196.

Sedov, Valentin Vasilievič; Golubeva, Leonilla Anatolyevna; Mogilnikov, V. A.; Rosenfelt, R. L. (Eds.) (1987): Finno-ugry i balty v ėpochu srednevekov'ja. Moskva: Izdat Nauka (Archeologija SSSR, 17). PDF

Bitner-Wr�blewska, Anna (2011): East European Enamelled Ornaments and the Character of Contacts between the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea. In Frans-Arne H. Stylegar, Stanislav Shabanov, Ingar M�rkest�l Gundersen, Anton Dushenko, Martens Jes (Eds.): Inter Ambo Maria: Contacts Between Scandinavia and the Crimea in the Roman Period. Kristiansand � Simferopol: �DOLYA� Publishing House (Cultural Historical Reports (Kulturhistoriske rapporter), 10). PDF

Curta, Florin (2012): "Slavic" bow fibulae: twenty years of research. In Bericht der R�misch-Germanischen Kommission (93), pp. 235�342. PDF

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