Roman Bronze Fibula of a Hound Hunting a Rabbit

£ 350.00

A Roman bronze plate fibula in the form of a hound hunting a rabbit, shown in profile. The hound is depicted in motion with the rabbit in its mouth, as though it had caught its prey mid-chase. The hound’s body is long, narrow, and slightly curved, with its ears pricked up. Its slender legs are outstretched and its tail pressed downwards against its legs. The rabbit’s body is arched sharply upwards, as though desperately attempting to escape the hound’s jaws, with its long ears pointed upwards. The fur on both the rabbit and hound has been rendered through incised lines. This scene unfolds on a curved ground line. The reverse of the brooch is plain except for the lug to which the pin was attached and the original curved catch. The pin is now missing. Remnants of a silver finish are visible to the surface suggesting that the pin was originally silvered.

Date: Circa 1st - 3rd Century AD
Condition: Fine condition. A beautiful patination has developed on its surface along with some encrustation. The pin is now missing. The silver finish is almost entirely gone.
SKU: RES-259 Categories: , Tags: , ,

Small fibulae, such as this piece, were worn by both Roman soldiers and subjects across the empire. They served both a decorative and practical function, being used to fasten articles of clothing, such as cloaks or togae. They often took on the form of stylised animals, with zoomorphic brooches being one of the most popular designs of plate brooches. Animals were a favoured decorative motif across Roman art, either in association with specific deities or myths, or as popular domestic animals. The motif of a dog chasing a rabbit was a common depiction, appearing on decorative art, such as reliefs, frescos, mosaics, and sculpture, as well as everyday items, such as jewellery, folding knives, cups, and fibula. Hunting was a popular pastime in Ancient Rome, with hares being a popular prey. The bones of hares are often found in the domestic waste of the Romans, suggesting that they were consumed.

To discover more on Roman and Celtic brooches, please see our relevant blog post: Roman and Celtic Fibulae

Weight 12.47 g
Dimensions L 3.9 x W 2.3 cm
Region

Southern Europe

Metal

Bronze

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