Chemical Composition: ICP-MS/AAA data from sample, Brass:
Cu, 83.45; Sn, less than 0.25; Pb, 0.12; Zn, 15.89; Fe, 0.4; Ni, 0.02; Ag, 0.05; Sb, 0.07; As, less than 0.10; Bi, less than 0.025; Co, less than 0.01; Au, less than 0.01; Cd, less than 0.001
J. Riederer
Technical Observations: The patina is green and brown with a few spots of cuprite. One end of the crossbar is missing, and there is a break in the coil.
This fibula was manufactured in a way similar to 1985.145, although in this case the wire that forms the spring and pin is part of the cast body (1). A rod, with one end rounded and the other hammered flat, was used for the crossbar. A wire, in this case integral with the body, was hammered and coiled around the crossbar, coiling to one end, at which point it was bent across the top of the fibula to the other end of the crossbar. This wire coiled back to the middle of the crossbar and then extended out to become the pin. Finally, the top of the cast bow was hammered over the crossbar, which secured the wire that extends across the top of the fibula as well as the inner end of the coiled wire. The other end of the bow was hammered out to form the catchplate.
NOTES:
1. This method of manufacture is illustrated in M. Pernot, J. Dubos, and J. P. Guillaumet, “Technologies de fibules du Mont-Beuvray,” in Techniques antiques du bronze: Faire un vase, faire un casque, faire une fibule, Centre de recherches sur le techniques gréco-romaines 12 (Dijon, 1988) 59-91, esp. 84.
Carol Snow (submitted 2002)
