Brooch

Brooches are decorative items designed to be attached to garments. They are usually made of metal, often silver or gold but sometimes bronze or some other material. Brooches are often decorated with enamel or with gemstones and may be solely for ornament, or sometimes serve a practical function as a fastening, perhaps for a cloak.

The earliest known brooches are from the Bronze Age. As fashions in brooches changed rather fast, they are important chronological indicators.

Fibula (or Fibulae plural) are ornamental clasps or broochs used by migratory tribes in Europe during the 3rd through 7th centuries. They were shaped somewhat like a large safety pin and were used to hold clothing together. They came in many varieties and held prominent significance for the identity of the wearer. They were usually made of precious metals and often had encrusted gem stones. Eagle fibula, often worn in pairs, commemorate the worship of the Sun, common among the pagan tribes.

See also: Brooch, Bronze, Bronze Age, Cloak, Clothing, Decorative, Fashion, Fastening, Garments