Plate fibulae| are one of the three classes of fibulae|; the other two classes are penannular fibulae| (class A) and bow fibulae| (class B). Plate fibulae have a body that is generally flat and wide. The pin usually runs very close to the body. Plate fibulae are thus not useful for fastening fabric together and are usually only decorative. They come in a huge variety of forms and shapes. The essential form of penannular fibulae and bow fibulae is readily apparent, but many so-called plate fibula are not quite plate-like. Some post-Roman Germanic and Slavic fibulae consist of two flat plates connected by a short bow and are known as bow-plate or plate-bow fibulae. For practical purposes, we classify any fibula that is not clearly a penannular fibula or bow fibula within the plate fibula class.

A sample of plate fibulae types from Riha, E. Die römischen Fibeln aus Augst und Kaiseraugst. (1979). PDF

Pin Construction

Plate Fibula with Hinged Pin

Jaw Hinge Brooches. This jaw hinge is characteristic of provincial Roman disc brooches of the 1st and 2nd centuries and was not popular outside the Roman provinces. The jaw hinge consists of two small parallel standing plates ("jaws"), between which the needle is inserted and fixed on an axis (usually iron). The hing is always mounted on the back side of the fibulae or brooch, so it remains invisible in use. The jaw hinge is used exclusively for Roman disc brooches and their relatives (fibula with head plate) in which the construction of the suspension is hidden behind a plate (disc or head plate). The associated needle is usually bent. Triangular to quadrangular (i-m below) solid plate needle holders are characteristic, but now and then they also have a simple perforation.

Plate Fibula with Spring

A spring is attached to the back of the plate, either fitted in a loop or soldered. Such springs are almost always bilateral and usually have three or four loops on each side.

Plate fibulae with spring pins, from Almgren, O. Studien über nordeuropäische Fibelformen. (Liepzig, 1923). PDF

Celtic Plate Fibulae

Roman| Plate| Fibulae|

Geometric| Plate| Fibula|

Enamel Plate Fibula

Letter Plate Fibula

Zoomorphic| Plate| Fibula|

Skeuomorphic| Plate| Fibula|

Tutulus Fibula

Post-Roman Plate Fibulae|

Anglo-Saxon Plate Fibulae

References

Almgren, O. Studien über nordeuropäische Fibelformen. (Liepzig, 1923). PDF
Baye, J. The Industrial Arts of the Anglo-Saxons. (London|, 1893).

Boelicke, U. Die Fibeln aus dem Areal der Colonia Ulpia Traiana. (Mainz, 2002). PDF
Bohme, A. "Die Fibeln der Kastelle Saalburg und Zugmantel" in Saalburg Jahrbuch, XXIX. (1973).

Bojovic, D. Rimske Fibule Singidunuma. Muzej Grada Bograda Serija - Zbirke i Legati Katalog XII. (Beograd, 1983).
Buora, M. Fibule antiche del Friuli. Cataloghi E Monografie Archeologiche Dei Civici Musei Di Udi. (Rome, 2008).
British Museum. Guide to Anglo-Saxon Antiquities. (London,| 1923).
Ettlinger, E. Die rimischen 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). Online
Genceva, 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
Gugl, C. Die romischen Fibeln aus Virunum. (Klagenfurt, 1995).
Hattatt, R. Brooches of Antiquity. (Oxford, 1987).
Janovic, A. Nakit u rimskoj Dardaniju. (Belgrade, 1978).
Jobst, W. Die römischen Fibeln aus Lauriacum. (Wimmer, Linz, 1975).
Koscevic, R. Antičke ﬁ bule s područja Siska. (Zagreb, 1980). PDF
Matouschek, J & H. Nowak. "Unpublizierte Hasten- und Hundefibeln aus österreichischen Privatsammlungen" in Römisches Österreich, 9/10, (1981 - 1982).
Matouschek, J & H. Nowak. "Unpublizierte Tierfibeln und Fibeln mit theriomorphen Gestaltungselementen aus österreichischen Privatsammlungen" in Römisches Österreich, 13/14, (1985 - 1986).
Riha, E. Die römischen Fibeln aus Augst und Kaiseraugst. (1979). PDF
Schleiermachen, M. "Die römischen Fibeln von Kempten-Cambodunum" in Cambodunumforschungen V. (Kallmunz, 1993).
Sedlmayer, H. Die römischen Fibeln von Wels. (Wels, 1995). PDF
Van Buchem, H. De Fibulae Van Nijmegen. (Nijmegen, 1941). PDF
Winter, H. "Römische Hakenkreuz Fibeln von österreichischen Fundstellen uas Privatbesitz" in Römisches Osterreich 9/10 (1981/1982), pp. 231 - 251.

Riha Type Finder

Riha, E. Die römischen Fibeln aus Augst und Kaiseraugst. (1979). PDF

Group 3. PLATE FIBULAE WITH SPRING PIN
3.14 Round disc fibula with press plate rest
3.15 Enameled disk fibula with spring
3.16 Round disc fibula with glass medallion in enamel frame
3.17 Hallmarked oval disc fibula with glass insert
3.18 Broken disc fibula
3.19 Roman provincial swastika fibula
3.20 Ax fibula
3.21 Zoomorphic fibula with spring pin

Group 7. PLATE FIBULAE WITH JAW HINGE PIN

7.1 Temple (none listed)
7.2 Umbonate (raised center knob or ornament)
7.3 Complex round
7.4 Cruciform
7.5 Lunar (Crescent)
7.6 Spoke wheel with center ornament
7.7 Disc brooches with punched ornamentation
7.8 Disc brooches with glass cabochon
7.9 Brooch with openwork leg rest
7.10 Disc brooches with press plate supports
7.11 Tutulus-like fibulae
7.12 Ring-shaped enamel fibulae
7.13 Enamel fibulae with alternating swatches
7.14 Millefiori ornamented
7.15 Brooch with movable animal sculpture
7.16 Equilateral disc brooches
7.17 Flat multicolored enamel fibulae
7.18 Disc brooches with one symmetry axis
7.19 Fibulas with moving beads
7.20 Complex enamel brooches
7.21 Brooches with medallions
7.22 Zoomorphic with punch decorations
7.23 Shoe sole plate
7.24 Zoomorphic
7.25 Zoomorphic with enamel decorations

Genceva Plates

Genceva, 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

Genceva, 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

Van Buchem, H. De Fibulae Van Nijmegen. (Nijmegen, 1941). PDF

XV. Geometric plate fibulae
1-18. Equilateral fibulae
19-27 Disc fibulae of oval or polygonal shape

XVI. Enamel-work round plate fibulae

XVII. Plate fibulae
1-5. Zoomorphic Plate fibulae
6. Letter plate fibula (inverted S)
7. Skeuomorphic Plate Fibula (axe)
8-9. Openwork plate fibula (Swastika)
10-12. Geometric plate fibula

Plate Fibula