Italic Quatrefoil Fibula
€650
available
Object number
AR3566-24
| Object: |
Italic quatrefoil fibula
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| Material: |
Bronze.
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| Period: |
Early Iron Age, 8th cent. BC, Italic. |
| Description: |
Bronze fibula with four spirals in one plane. So-called quatrefoil fibula or double spectacle brooch. A lozenge shaped bronze sheet covers the center of the front side. A wire flattened in the middle is attached to the rear side. One end forms a spring and a once complete pin. The other end forms a mount for the pin. This fibula is a typical Italic type from the beginning of Iron Age. But variants of the type have also been found in Austria and surrounding countries. They are therefore connected to the early Hallstatt culture. |
| Dimensions: |
60mm length or diameter or longest axis.
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| Condition: |
Very good condition. The spirals and the central fastening are complete and intact. A remnant of the central decorative plate is also still intact. On the back is the base plate for the pin, including the coil spring and pin holder; the pin itself is missing.
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| Provenance: |
Acquired by us in 2024 from the Swiss art market. Previously in the Swiss private collection of G. Gartmann, who acquired it from the Swiss Hartmann family collection, collection no. BR22. The founder of the collection, antiquarian Dr. Roland Hartmann (1922–2007) from St. Gallen, built an extensive collection of antiquarian books, Greek vases, and Iron Age brooches. The present piece was acquired in 1986 from Casa Serodine in Ascona, Switzerland. The discovery in a grave is recorded.
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| References: |
A nearly identical fibula is in the Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, object no. 1987.135.7. Cf. R. Hattatt, A Visual Catalogue of Richard Hattatt's Ancient Brooches, p. 281, fig. 140, no. 1348 (find spot: Italy). Cf. R. Heynowski, Fibeln (2012), p. 48, no. 2.2. |
| Literature: |
A very good and compact overview on the subject of ancient fibulae is given by R. Heynowski in his book "Fibeln - erkennen, bestimmen, beschreiben" (Deutscher Kunstverlag, 2012, German language).
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| Authenticity: |
We guarantee the authenticity of this object and all works of ancient art sold by us for life.
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