Riha type 3.21, pl. 13, 316, 317
Typology: fibula, plate fibula, zoomorphic plate fibula
References: Genceva type 29a, pl. XXVI, 10 - 11
Spring tendon above: Riha type 3.21.1, pl. 13, 316 (very crude); Hattat BOA 1158 (finer with inscribed details)
Spring tendon below: Riha type 3.21.1, pl. 13, 316; Hattatt BOA 1156 - 1159
Note: spring tendon "below" means between the pin and the body of the fibula.
Dates: Undecorated c. AD 50 - 80, decorated AD 150 - 200, Re-appeared later c. AD 400 - 600.
Distribution: Predominantly found in the Rhine area, in Noricum, and in Pannonia
Comments: The spring and pin are on the underside of the birds body. These types range from very crude (Riha 316) to finely cast with additional punched and/or engraved details (Riha 317).
Image: Roman bird
fibula, c. 3rd - 5th Century A.D., cf.
Riha type 3.21, pl. 13, 316;
Hattatt BOA 1158, 1.25 inches, pin missing
Image: Roman, Gaul, Bronze Bird (Dove?) Fibula, c. 2nd Century A.D. cf. Buora 855; 28.8 mm, 7.808g, c. 2nd century A.D.; very finely made, bronze cast bird (dove?) fibula with engraved decorative details, "jaw" pin hing. This rare type with a "jaw" pin hing was produced in the northern Gallic provinces and Rhine area, c. 2nd century A.D. (ex FORVM AS71467).
Typology: Schleiermachen 263, Böhme 43c; Winter IIa2
Dates: c. AD 150 - 200
Image: Front and back views of typical 2D peacock fibula. (Quadrans collection.)
Image: Front and back views of typical 2D Bird or Pigeon or Pheasant fibula. (Quadrans collection.)
Typology: Winter IIb1
Dates: c. AD 150-200
(Image from JayGT4 gallery)
Typology: Böhme 43a
Dates: c. AD 150 - 200
Image: Front and back views of typical 2D Eagle fibula. (Quadrans collection.)
Notes: A variation with a vertically oriented eagle with his head bowed to one of his wing tips dates to the 5th century and is likely Germanic.
Typology: Böhme 43b
Typology: Feugere 29a21
Dates: c. AD 150 - 200
Dates: AD 100 - 200. Flourished AD 100 - 150
Image: Front and back views of typical 2D horse fibula. (Quadrans Collection.)
Image: Another typical 2D horse fibula, this one with pin intact. (Jay GT4 collection)
Image: A different type the 2D horse fibula. (Quadrans Collection)
3D with Horse "Standing" on Spring
Typology: Jobst 29a; Matouschek-Novak 1b; Bojovic XXVIII.4a;
Dates: c. late 2nd to 3rd century AD, though examples with knobs on the end of the T-arms date into the 4th century
Distribution: Pannonia and middle and lower Danube.
Image: A typical Pannonian horse fibula, hinged type. This 3D type stands above its hinge and is therefore actually a bow fibula and not a plate fibula. It is clearly related to the knee fibula family and dates to late 2nd to mid-3rd century AD.
Image: A spring type 3D horse fibula. (Quadrans collection)
Image: Horse and rider
fibula. The rider is missing his
head on this example. (
Quadrans collection.)
Typology: Matouschek-Novak 2a; Bojovic XXVIII.3;
Dates: Late 1st to 2nd century for plain, and mid 2nd to early 3rd century for enameled.
Distribution: Rhine and Danube Limes
Notes: The dog is usually running and can be confused with the hare.
Image: A running dog fibula. (Quadrans collection)
Typology: Bojovic XXVIII.1;
Dates: c. AD 100 - 200, flourished AD 150 - 200
Notes: The rabbit is fairly short and fat with short ears. Most rabbit fibulae have one or more small rabbit-shaped indentations, usually filled with enamel. This is thought to refer to the fecundity of rabbits, making the fibula possibly something of a fertility object.
Image: A rabbit fibula. This example lacks the small rabbit-shaped enamel insert and might have been silvered.(Quadrans collection)
Almgren pl. 10, 222
Notes: The hare is fairly long and thin with large ears.
Image: A hare fibula. (Quadrans collection)
Deer
Typology: Gugl 18g
Image: Zoomorphic plate Fibula, Stag, 37x25mm, 13,32g. (Quadrans collection)
Typology: Ettlinger 48; Feugere 29a7b
Dates: AD 80 - 150. Possibly later, c. AD 150 - 210/250.
Typology: Böhme 43l
Dates: c. AD 140 - 180
Hattatt 1194 and 1195 (not the lion fibula type above)
Dates: AD 120 - 160
Typology: Böhme 43g
Dates: AD 140 - 170
Notes: Most dolphin shaped fibulae are in fact variations of the knee-fibula. See the knee fibula page for examples and details.
Typology: Böhme 43h
Dates: 5th - 6th century AD.
Distribution: Used by Germanic tribes, including those within the Hunnic confederation. Possibly used by Huns as well.
Notes: Also known as Cicada fibula.
Image: Fly fibula, length 37 mm, maximum width 24mm.
Image: Reverse of the fly fibula showing the remains of an iron spring and the narrow catch.
References
Almgren, O.
Studien über nordeuropäische Fibelformen. (Liepzig, 1923).
PDFBohme, 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. (Belgrade, 1983).
Buora, M.
Fibule antiche del Friuli. Cataloghi E Monografie Archeologiche Dei Civici Musei Di Udi. (
Rome, 2008).
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).
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).
PDFGugl, C.
Die romischen Fibeln aus Virunum. (Klagenfurt, 1995).
Hattatt, R.
Brooches of Antiquity. (
Oxford, 1987).
Jobst, W.
Die römischen Fibeln aus Lauriacum. (Linz, 1975).
Koscevic, R.
Antičke fi bule s područja Siska. (Zagreb, 1980).
PDFMatouschek,
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).
PDFSchleiermachen, M. "Die römischen Fibeln von Kempten-Cambodunum" in
Cambodunumforschungen V. (Kallmunz, 1993).
Van Buchem, H.
De Fibulae Van Nijmegen. (Nijmegen, 1941).
PDFWinter, H. "Römische Hakenkreuz Fibeln von österreichischen Fundstellen uas Privatbesitz" in
Römisches Osterreich 9/10 (1981/1982), pp. 231 - 251.
Winter, H. "Römische Vogelfibeln von österreichischen Fundstellen aus Privatbesitz" in
Römisches Österreich 13/14 (1985/1986), pp. 323 - 369.
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