Italic Metalwork: Bronze serpentine fibula (small)

Inv. No.: 95.084a
Provenance: Italy (Italic)
Date: 9th century BC
Height: 33mm
Length: 86mm
 
A small serpentine bronze fibula with two coils and incised decoration on the bow. The shape is similar to, but earlier than, the large serpentine fibula, Inv. No. 86.002. The long catch plate in this example is formed from a flattened piece of metal that has been bent up to make a gutter to hold the pin. Above the catch plate, the bow (quadrangular in cross section) curves up at oblique angle and is formed into a tight coil (round in cross section). The bow (again quadrangular in section) then loops across to the spring, which is made from a single tight coil (round in section). A large part of the spring effect comes from the long, tapering pin (round in section) that curves down from the spring and then around with the tip being held in the catch plate. The end segment of the pin was broken off, but is now re-attached. The surface of the fibula is coated with a crusty green patina although some patches of bright metal are visible.

Function:
A decorative fastener for clothing.

Manufacture:
Made by hammering, coiling and bending a single length of bronze wire with the bow decorated using incision.

Decoration:
The heavy incrustation makes it difficult to discern any decoration, however, incised hatched triangles are visible on part of the bow, between the two coils.

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

Comparanda:
Close-Brooks, J. and D. Ridgway, "Veii in the Iron Age", Italy Before the Romans: The Iron Age, Orientalizing and Etruscan periods, eds. D. and F. R. Ridgway, London, Academic Press, 1979, Fig. 5, Veii I, b (similar; 9th century BC).

Hencken, H., Tarquinia, Villanovans and Early Etruscans, Cambridge, Massachusetts, Peabody Museum, Bulletin No. 23, Vol. I, 1968, Fig. 103, b (similar shape).

Pincelli, R. and C. M. Govi, La Necropoli Villanoviana di San Vitale, Bologna, Istituto per la Storia di Bologna, 1975, Vol. I, Fig. 71, 3 (Tomba 131) ("Tipologia delle fibule serpeggianti"); Vol. II, Tavola 97, Tomba 131.

Randall-MacIver, D., The Iron Age in Italy: A Study of those Aspects of the Early Civlization which are Neither Villanovan nor Etruscan, Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1927, Fig. 46 (similar shape; from Sicily).