Roman Silver Fibula of a Horse

Object Description

A fine Roman silver fibula in the form of horse, shown in profile. The horse is depicted standing, facing left on a curved ground line, which has been further enriched with two parallel lines running along its length. The horse’s forelegs are slightly bent, and its head is bowed down, perhaps as though it were about to graze. The anatomy of the horse has been rendered naturalistically, with a curved back and tail. A series of incised lines represent the horse’s mane. The reverse of the brooch is plain and unworked, apart from the hinged pin and catch plate, which is incomplete.

Date: Circa 1st – 3rd Century AD

Object History

From an important European private collection, 1980s-2000s.

Object Condition

Fine condition. Some tarnishing and encrustations to the surface. Some surface roughness, scratches, and minor chips consistent with age. One of the forelegs has been repaired and the other displays a crack. The pin is intact and moveable, though the catch plate is incomplete.

Object Details