Villanovan Metalwork: Bronze fibula

Inv. No.: 82.009
Provenance: Northern or Western Italy (Villanovan)
Date: c. 8th century BC
Height: 44mm
Length: 65mm
 
Purchased from M. Simotti-Rocchi, Rome.

A bronze fibula with a heavy leech type solid bow decorated with incised linear patterns and surmounted by three stylised birds (a popular motif in Villanovan art) facing towards the long catch plate. The latter has been formed from a flattened piece of metal that has been bent around sharply producing a sturdy, deep holder for the pin which, however, is missing along with the spring. The catch plate is broken at the foot end and the exterior surface is decorated with incised triangular patterns. There are two small cracks in the outer edge of the neck of the bird nearest the head end. Much of the dark surface of the brooch is covered with a green patina except for the underside of the bow and the piece is coated with lacquer.

Function:
A pin, used for fastening a garment such as a cloak.

Manufacture:
Produced by a combination of casting and forging.

Decoration:

1. The three birds are similar, each having a long curved beak, a sinuous neck that curves around and then sits on a short, simplified body that is set on top of the bow. A groove separates neck from body. The middle bird has an incised oval eye on its right side.
2. The upper surface of the leech bow is decorated with incised parallel (or combed) lines that run across the bow behind the bird nearest the spring end, in front of and behind the middle bird and lengthwise beside it, and across the bow in front of the bird nearest the catch plate.
3. The outer surface of the open side of the catch plate is decorated with standing triangles outlined by double or triple incised lines (three and a half remain).

Bibliography:
Hattatt, R., Ancient and Romano-British Brooches, Sherborne, Dorset Publishing Company, 1982, 26-28 ("Fabrication"), 186-194 (Pre-Roman Italian brooches).

Hencken, H., Tarquinia and Etruscan Origins, London, Thames and Hudson, 1968, 107-112 (birds in Villanovan art).

Reich, J., Italy Before Rome, Oxford, Elsevier-Phaidon, 1979, 64 (birds in Villanovan art).

Wilson, L. M., The Clothing of the Ancient Romans, Baltimore, The Johns Hopkins Press, 1938, 31-33.

Comparanda:
Hencken, H., Tarquinia, Villanovans and Early Etruscans, Cambridge, Massachusetts, Peabody Museum, Bulletin No. 23, Vol. I, 1968, Figs. 171, d; 174, i; and 398 (very similar fibulae; from Monterozzi, 750-700 BC). (see also H. Hencken, Tarquinia and Etruscan Origins, London, Thames and Hudson, 1968, Figs. 134 and 135 where two of the fibulae are again illustrated).

Hull, M. R. and C. F. C. Hawkes, Corpus of Ancient Brooches in Britain: Pre-Roman Bow Brooches, British Archaeological Reports, British Series 168, 1987, Pl. 7, 7061 (similar bow; found at Kingham, Oxfordshire).

Moretti, M. and G. Maetzke, The Art of the Etruscans, London, Thames and Hudson, 1970, Pl. 109 (top) ("The Corsini fibula", a very elaborate gold fibula decorated with birds; late 8th century BC).