Gold Officer's Crossbow Brooch with Locking Catch

Early 5th century AD. A substantial gold Keller type 6 crossbow brooch, decorated with seven red garnets; with hollow pentagonal-section crossbar, three eight-sided finials, openwork scrolled plaques flanking the deep kidney-shaped section bow, tubular footplate with openwork scooped edges; hinged pin and V-section catchplate to the reverse closed with a mounting in red garnet; the bow ornamented with three mountings of garnets on each side in cloisonné style, and decorated for all its length on the central rib by an imitation-pearl pattern, also visible on the beaded collars of the three eight-sided finials; original pin still in place. See Brunšmid, V., Kameni Spomenici Hrvatskoga Narodnoga Muzeja u Zagrebu (Gravestone monuments in the National Croatian Museum of Zagreb), in Vjesnik Hrvatskoga Arheoloskoga drustva, X, 1910; Levi Pisetzky, R.,Storia del costume in Italia, 5 voll., Milano, 1964-1969; Keller, E., Die Spätrömische Grabfunde in Südbayern, Munchener Beitrage zur Vor-und Frühgeschichte 14, Munchen, 1971; Arrhenius, B., Merovingian Garnet Jewellery, Göteborg, 1985; Hattatt, R. Iron Age and Roman Brooches, Oxford, 1985, item 507 for type; Beck, H. et al. Fibel und Fibeltracht, Berlin, 2000, fig.114 (2), 115(7); Schach Dörges, H. Züsammengespulte und vermengte Menschen’ in Archäeologischen Landesmuseum Baden-Wurttemberg, Die Alamannen Stuttgart, 2001, pp.79-102; Martin, M., Alamannen in Römische Heer’in Archäeologischen Landesmuseum Baden-Wurttemberg, Die Alamannen Stuttgart, 2001, pp.119-124; Mackreth, D.F., Brooches in Late Iron Age and Roman Britain, 2 volumes, Oxford, 2011; the item can be dated at the 5th century for analogies with similar brooches (Keller type 6, 1971, p.53), like three samples published by Mackreth (2011, cat.3.6, pl.142); these fibulae show a development on earlier types, consisting of a pin secured by another means to ensure that the brooch could not fall or be pulled off without considerable force; Mackreth references a gold specimen from the Moray Firth. The brooch is of remarkable quality and technical accomplishment, both in its manufacture and in the working of the gems. This kind of fibula, well known as a 'crossbow brooch', was used by the Roman army from the last quarter of the third century until the sixth century AD. It was a signifier of military status, and simpler specimens in bronze are often found in the graves of soldiers from the 4th and 5th century AD. More precious specimens, in gold or gilt, such as this example, were reserved for officers. 38.33 grams, 80mm (3"). Property of a Spanish collector; acquired from an old Spanish collection, 2008; accompanied by an academic report by military specialist Dr Raffaele D'Amato. The brooch is of remarkable quality and technical accomplishment, both in its manufacture and in the cutting of the gemstones into angular pyramidal forms. This kind of fibula, well know as a 'crossbow brooch', was in use within the Roman army from the last quarter of the third century until the sixth century AD. It was an attribute of military status and simpler specimens in bronze are often found in the graves of soldiers of the 4th and 5th century AD. More precious specimens, in gold or gilded, such as this example were reserved for officers.
Condition Report: Very fine condition. Rare.