Lot 41
Iberian Peninsula, Visigothic Kingdom, ca. 6th century CE. A bold and finely cast example of early medieval ornament, this silver fibula brooch hails from the Visigothic realm of the 6th century CE, a period of shifting identities and resplendent craftsmanship in post-Roman Iberia. Likely once securing a heavy woolen cloak or tunic, the brooch is formed in a stylized bilobal silhouette, its body composed of two abstract terminals connected by a narrow arched bridge. The front is richly decorated with incised scrollwork and geometric motifs - swirling volutes, triangles, and raised ridges - all emblematic of the distinctive Visigothic aesthetic that blended Roman technique with Germanic abstraction. These decorative elements are not merely ornamental but serve to articulate power, status, and cultural belonging in a society that stood at the crossroads of classical inheritance and tribal sovereignty. Size: 2.4" L x 1.3" W (6.1 cm x 3.3 cm); silver quality: 93.1%; weight: 10.5 grams
The reverse still bears the remnants of the original pin assembly, which would have allowed the piece to function practically as a clasp while signaling the wearer's wealth and affiliation. Fibulae of this type were not only utilitarian fasteners but also emblems of authority and distinction, often buried with their owners as status markers in elite graves.
Visigothic metalwork, though rooted in earlier provincial Roman traditions, flourished with a new visual language of bold forms and symbolic decoration. This piece exemplifies that shift - both elegant and assertive, abstract yet deeply intentional. A striking survival from the early medieval world, this fibula brooch testifies to the artistry and identity of the Visigothic peoples who helped shape the cultural landscape of early Spain.
Provenance: ex-T.F. Holy Lands collection, formed since the 1960s; ex-private UK collection; ex-Vienna, Austria collection, before 2000
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#195345
- Condition: Missing pin and encrustations to hinge, both of which inhibit wearability. Light surface wear commensurate with age, but, otherwise, very nice preservation with patina in areas.
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