Italic Metalwork: Bronze leech type fibula

Inv. No.: 83.096
Provenance: Latium/Etruria (purchased from Fortuna Galerie, Zurich)
Date: 8th century BC
Height: 35mm
Length: 73mm
 
Gift of Dr. Stanley Castehow.

A fibula with an exaggerated leech (sanguisuga) style bow decorated with incised and dotted geometric patterns, a double coil spring and a straight tapering pin. The latter has broken away from the spring (its most vulnerable point) and may also be broken at the tip. The small catch plate is formed from a flattened piece of metal with rounded sides that has been curled up to form a gutter to hold the pin. Its edges are badly damaged. The fibula is mottled dark metallic brown in colour with traces of green patina.

Function:
A decorative pin, used to fasten clothing.

Manufacture:
The bow was hollow-cast probably using a clay core (something can be heard rattling when the bow is shaken). A seam is visible along the bottom of one side, probably caused by the moulding process. The foot end was hammered and bent to shape to form the catch plate. The pin (now broken) was formed from a wire attached to the head end that was shaped by hammering and bent to form the coils of the spring.

Decoration:

1. The head and foot ends of the bow are each decorated with a band of transverse parallel incised lines. The latter diminish in circumference as the bow tapers at each end.
2. Between these framing bands, the bow is decorated with incised and dotted transverse and oblique lines forming a complex geometric design. Herringbone patterns fill in some of the oblique bands.

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

Hull, M. R. and C. F. C. Hawkes, Corpus of Ancient Brooches in Britain: Pre-Roman Bow Brooches, Oxford, British Archaeological Reports, British Series 168, 1987, 14-15.

Comparanda:
Camporeale, G., Ltruria mineraria, Milano, Electa, 1985, Nos. 69, 70, 103 (similar shapes and type of decoration).

Comstock, M. and C. Vermeule, Greek, Etruscan & Roman Bronzes in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Greenwich, Connecticut, New York Graphic Society, 1971, No. 319 (Geometric; similar shape and decorative style).

Hencken, H., Tarquinia, Villanovans and Early Etruscans, Cambridge, Massachusetts, Peabody Museum, Bulletin No. 23, Vol. I, 1968, Figs. 154, c (very similar); 170, d and 315, a.

Hull, M. R. and C. F. C. Hawkes, Corpus of Ancient Brooches in Britain: Pre-Roman Bow Brooches, Oxford, British Archaeological Reports, British Series 168, 1987, Pl. 5, "Kent" 8975.