Ask the Scholar
Document scope · 1 page
Scholar
Ask about this object, its catalog metadata, its source description, or the page inventory.
For page-specific OCR and visual context, open one of the page chats.
Source Description
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.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
133152
label
Crossbow Fibula
core
obj
dtoType
object
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
133152
contentType
object
title
Crossbow Fibula
description
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.
date
c. 350–400
rights
CC0
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
wikidata
Q60780066
genreSpecific
Jewelry
imageCount
1
source
import
dimensionsRaw
Overall: 9.9 x 5.8 x 3.2 cm (3 7/8 x 2 5/16 x 1 1/4 in.)
cul
Gallo-Roman or Romano-British, Migration period, 4th century
accession
1955.545
Source extras
tec
bronze, gilt-bronze, silver, and niello
tombstone
Crossbow Fibula, c. 350–400. Gallo-Roman or Romano-British, Migration period, 4th century. Bronze, gilt-bronze, silver, and niello; overall: 9.9 x 5.8 x 3.2 cm (3 7/8 x 2 5/16 x 1 1/4 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of Elie Borowski, 1955.545
collection
MED - Migration Period
creditline
Gift of Elie Borowski
updatedAt
2026-05-29 06:50:54.171000
sourceId
133152
dept
Medieval Art
coll
MED - Migration Period
med
bronze, gilt-bronze, silver, and niello
thumbnail_url
image_url
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
80de48d2813806ba