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Fibula (Pin)

400–200 BCE

The Cleveland Museum of Art

The Cleveland Museum of Art
Cleveland, United States

This extravagant fibula, likely used to fasten garments, is decorated with gold rosettes and vines. An enormous leech-shaped bow and pin form the body of the fibula. A band of rosettes adorns the center of the bow. Above the bow, a gold plaque is adorned with an eight-petaled flower and palmette filigree. A gold bead, perhaps representing a pomegranate, tops the plaque. The bead is crowned with oblong petals and sprouting leaves.

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  • Title: Fibula (Pin)
  • Date Created: 400–200 BCE
  • Physical Dimensions: Overall: 8 cm (3 1/8 in.)
  • Provenance: Dr. Arnold Ruesch, Switzerland, (Galerie Fischer, Lucerne, Switzerland, September 1, 1936, Cat. No. 347), (International Studio Art Corp.), (Joseph Brummer, NY, sold to Numismatic Fine Arts), Edward Gans, New York, NY sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art, The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Type: Jewelry
  • Rights: CC0
  • External Link: https://clevelandart.org/art/1947.504
  • Medium: gold
  • Fun Fact: This fibula’s elaborate surface includes soldered gold wire and granulated spheres.
  • Department: Greek and Roman Art
  • Culture: South Italy, Campania
  • Credit Line: John L. Severance Fund
  • Collection: GR - Greek
  • Accession Number: 1947.504
The Cleveland Museum of Art

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