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 Replies: 13 / Views: 3,420 |
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Pillar of the Community
 Spain
2752 Posts |
Thought I'd share this with you.... Next summer I'm hoping to install a small exposition of Roman coins and artefacts in my local museum with the help of a good friend, who also collects. Hence my recent purchase of a Roman Fibula. I must admit I've had great fun researching these ancient brooches, following the generic tranformation of the appearance and different working mechanisms through the centuries... This is a Bow type Fibula Group B3: Two-piece construction with a pin holding the spring and is commonly called a Trumpet Fibula... Here's a great reference site for those interested.. https://www.forumancientcoins.com/n...p?key=FibulaAlso if anyone has any kind of experience of setting up expositions and can pass on some different ideas it would be much appreciated..Especially how to display the coins!..Thanks Paul  |
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
Beautiful piece fully intact. I bet with a little cleaning the spring would work just like new. I have a few pieces of Fibula in storage, but not any fully intact ones. Thanks for posting it Paul.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
4208 Posts |
Excellent condition. All the fibulae I have came alongside UK dug uncleaned coins and all have at least the pin missing. Whatever the alloy the spring and pin were made of, it isn't very resilient; all of mine had extensive bronze disease throughout the remains of the spring - worth keeping an eye on that green spot!
Something that bugs me about displays is that you can only see one side of the coin. Where possible, I think it is good to have a second coin to show the obverse, even where they don't necessarily match. For example, a rare sestertius reverse alongside the obverse of a common issue of the same ruler.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
Outstanding, Paul. Pin intact, no bronze disease, no major deposits. Did I mention?: It's outstanding.
When the time comes, I hope you'll post pics of the display here.
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Pillar of the Community
 Spain
2752 Posts |
Thanks Ron.... I've actually had the pin hooked in place but have read its better to store it unattached to reduce stress on the spring...At least thats what I'm telling my wife who has really taken a fancy to it! And thanks to @BobL..Who really helped with dealers who sell these pretty little things! Edit..OOPS cross posted... Quote:
worth keeping an eye on that green spot! I assume you mean at the base of the pin... Just checked it and it isn't powdery...But will certainly keep my eye on it thanks Ben.. Quote:
Something that bugs me about displays is that you can only see one side of the coin. ...Me too!..I seem to remember seeing small mirrors used aswell to reflect the opposing side.. Quote:
When the time comes, I hope you'll post pics of the display here. ...Certainly will...I'm really looking forward to the design of it. And thanks Bob for your help really appreciated it made the hunt that much more enjoyable knowing the dealers are straight up  Edited by Palouche
11/08/2019 5:52 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Spain
2752 Posts |
Just acquired this Roman plate type Fibula from the same dealer.... Bronze 32mm diameter with a hinged pin and are More commonly known as a Disc Brooch. This type of brooch was not popular outside of the Roman provincies and was used around the 1st to the 2nd century AD...Due to the design it was probably not used for holding cloth in place but more as a decorative feature.. Again a pretty little thing IMO....Paul  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
Another one in great shape. Well done.
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Moderator
United States
34410 Posts |
That one is particularly nice. Do you know if the central circle would have been inlaid or colored since it seems to have been more decorative than functional?
"If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Pillar of the Community
Spain
2752 Posts |
Thanks Bob and Spence.... Quote:
Do you know if the central circle would have been inlaid or colored since it seems to have been more decorative than functional? Yes they were Spence and also different forms...Here's a few... I really do like the natural earthy colours they used..  As I'm a complete novice in this area I thought a good plan would be to acquire one Fibula from each main type in as nice a condition as possible (money permitting). This will then allow me to familiarise myself with the design structures, forms etc.. There are 3 main Fibula types...Pennanular, Bow and Plate..(I'm now on the hunt for a Pennanular) Each of these types are then broken down into sub-types and varieties... Once I have all 3 types in hand, and feel more confident about what I'm actually purchasing, I will then start to collect more decorative specimens of which there are many but of course a lot more expensive....Paul |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
Looking forward to seeing a post of a pennanular fibula from you Paul. Good hunting. I hope your thread here gets the attention of potential collectors who may be intrigued by the idea of purchasing an affordable antiquity. Even some enameled ones can be gotten for fairly cheap, although of course they would be lower grade and sans-pins - nothing like the quality of the ones you posted above. Personally I have an Aucissa fibula (in terrible shape), four cute little fibulae from the Chernyakhov culture (2nd-5th cent. detector finds from Ukraine), and a bow fibula that is modest, but I like it. I can see the appeal of this collecting area...although I do prefer the much older AE weaponry.  |
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Pillar of the Community
Spain
2752 Posts |
Thanks Bob!... One of my criterias with these Fibulae is that I have coins to compliment them. As you know I collect Iberic coins as well so the pennanular type will link in nicely. This also makes it much more exciting and interesting, maybe pushing me into purchasing some coins that otherwise I wouldn't of crossed. As Ben and yourself said before one of the main problems with these artifacts can be Bronze Disease, something to be aware of...Although the treatment of this is a lot easier on a chunk of Bronze like this than a detailed coin where it can be destroyed... Quote:
four cute little fibulae from the Chernyakhov culture
..OOH I'd really like to see them? Quote:
although I do prefer the much older AE weaponry. And a wonderful collection too.. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
Quote:
I'd really like to see them  |
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
I bet that disk would have looked fantastic when it was shined up. I've read where some of the more elaborate ones were note actually fibula but awards that soldiers worn on their uniforms. Like present day metals.
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Pillar of the Community
Spain
2752 Posts |
Very nice Bob....Especially like the design of the 2nd from left with the triangular design on the splay. Really nice condition too!..Are there coins from this era?...And what size are they?
I've read the same Ron...Bravery, longitude of service etc...They are usually much more ornate in design with silver inlay....
Paul
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Replies: 13 / Views: 3,420 |
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Posted 11/08/2019 5:26 pm
