Brooches were also known as fibulae in the ancient times. They were a practical of jewelry which were designed as an attachment to the daily clothing. Brooches were usually more often than not manufactured from various soft metals and had encrusted gemstones. But it was also possible to find pendants that were made of gold, silver or bronze which could also be decorated with gemstones. They are worn as either an ornamental accessory or had practical aspects to them...which were to hold clothing together, such as a ladies neckerchief or cloak.The earliest shawl pins were known to be from the bronze age. The peoples of great dynasties wore pendants in the bronze age as an ornamental clasp. They were also worn by Celts and migratory tribes in Europe. They were usually made in the shape of a large safety pin and were used as a means of holding clothing together. They were an important significance of the identity of the person wearing them usually representing class. They came in various designs which indicated the ethnicity of class.An ornately designed pin was an important part of late antique dress and simpler designs were part of Roman uniform dress.Women would wear them in pairs to fasten their dresses, and a single shawl pin was most likely used to hold their clothes together. These items have been made in a wide variety of shapes and sizes throughout histor with the decoration and design being different from region to region. Centuries back with the expansion of wealth and the creation of a market for inexpensive jewelry the brooch became a popular type of personal decoration.Ancient ornaments are prized items for collectors as they are often very well preserved and are relatively easy to acquire. But why would you when you can have beautiful gorgeous ones at a fraction of the cost for the ancient ones? Today many people still choose to wear a brooch as a decorative piece of fashion accent. They come in many different shapes and sizes with or without gems. Here are a few of the more popular ones these days: