Mask fibula

In the 5th century BC, the La Tène culture, named after an archaeological site in Switzerland, developed in central Europe. Their characteristics included the development of a distinctive artistic style. Brooches for fastening clothing (known as mask fibuli) from the early La Tène period have been found from the middle Rhine to north Bohemia. It is rare to find them outside the range of the Celts, as this example from the district of Niederschönhausen in Berlin was. The fibula may have travelled this far north as a trade item or gift. On the body of this Berlin fibula, two individual male human heads can be seen, depicted facing away from each other. The bent-back foot is in the shape of aram’s head. (MN)