Italic Metalwork: Bronze belt fragment
Inv. No.: 95.094
Provenance: Southern Italy
Date: c. 4th century BC
Length: 224mm
Width: 97mm
A fragment of a large bronze belt, similar to bronze belts worn by Samnite and native South Italian warriors. The fragment is roughly rectangular in shape with an oblique, jagged edge on the left. The bottom edge is broken. Originally there was a row of small holes along this edge and the break has occurred in part along this row of holes leaving a scalloped edge in places. The top edge is more intact and the row of holes is still present. These holes were used for fastening a leather or cloth lining to the metal band. There is a straight edge on the right with two large hooks (Suano Type 1 B; Robinson Type 4). These are tapering in shape, curling around at the end. About ten millimetres from the edge of the belt, narrow, grooved flanges reinforce the sides of the hooks with the result that the hooks look like elongated arrowheads. The laminae used to attach the hooks to the belt are decorated with incised floral patterns and are shaped like scalloped leaves. The surface is pitted and corroded; it has a blue-green patina with some patches of bright metal.
Function:
A type of metal belt worn particularly by warriors in Southern Italy or perhaps used as a symbol of warrior status, particularly in a burial context where many of these belts have been found.
Manufacture:
A hammered piece of metal with drilled holes along the edges for holding a leather or cloth lining and hooks with riveted attachment plates decorated with incised patterns.
Decoration:
- The laminae used for riveting the clasp to the belt are decorated with incised, elongated palmette patterns. There is a small palmette at the base with a long central element. On each side, there is a narrow band ending in a volute, framing the palmette. The bands are hatched with parallel lines. Scroll patterns fill the outer edges of the bottom half of each lamina. Another small palmette pattern, similar to the first, fills the top half. Alternate petals of the palmettes either have central ribs made from tiny punched oval patterns or are decorated with a single punched circle. There are four rivets: one at the end, one in the middle and two at the base.
- At the base of each lamina, the narrow section of each clasp is decorated with a vertical line of punched circles framed by vertical lines. There is also a series of vertical lines just before the clasp widens to form its elongated arrowhead end. These patterns are difficult to discern because of extensive corrosion. The outer edges of the arrowhead section of each clasp are decorated with paired grooves.
Bibliography:
Connolly, P., Greece and Rome at War, London, Macdonald, 1981, 106-110.
Robinson, E. G. D., "South Italian Bronze Armour", Classical Art in the Nicholson Museum, Sydney, eds. A. Cambitoglou and E. G. D. Robinson, Mainz, Philipp von Zabern, 1995, 145-165.
Suano, M., Sabellian-Samnite Bronze Belts in the British Museum, ed. L. Burn, London, British Museum (Occasional Paper No. 57), 1986.
Comparanda:
Carratelli, G. P. (ed.), The Western Greeks, exhibition catalogue, Palazzo Grassi, Venice, 1996, Catalogue Nos. 118 II (bronze lamina belt, 599-575 BC) and 266 V (bronze lamina belt with silver lamina inserts; mid 4th century BC).
Connolly, P., Greece and Rome at War, London, Macdonald, 1981, Figs. 2-7, p. 108; p. 109 and Figs. 3 and 10, p. 110 (Samnite bronze belts; 4th century BC).
Juliis, E. M. De, Archeologia in Puglia: I Musei Archeologici della provincia di Bari, Bari, Adda Editore, 1983, Fig. 130 (bronze belt clasp with very similar pattern; 4th century BC).
Robinson, E. G. D., "South Italian Bronze Armour", Classical Art in the Nicholson Museum, Sydney, eds. A. Cambitoglou and E. G. D. Robinson, Mainz, Philipp von Zabern, 1995, Figs. 1 and 7 (Type 4 clasp) and Pl. 46 (very similar belt and clasps).
Suano, M., Sabellian-Samnite Bronze Belts in the British Museum, ed. L. Burn, London, British Museum (Occasional Paper No. 57), 1986, Fig. 1 (Type 1 B), Pls. 1-10.