Brooches are generally defined as decorative clasps or pins, but they can also be defined as clasps with either a fixed pin or a hinged pin and catch. As an ornamental piece of jewelry, the brooch has a long history as a functional clasp with a great deal of ornamental significance.
Origins of the ornament can be traced back to the Bronze Age (2000-500 BC), when metal was adopted as a common material. Many early societies, such as the Greeks, Romans, and Celts, used brooches to secure and clasp their clothing together, introducing early forms of the decorative brooch.
