Lot 139
Western Europe, France / Gaul, Merovingian Dynasty, Migration Period, ca. 5th to 6th century CE. An exquisite Merovingian gilt silver fibula, masterfully cast and richly ornamented, set with three deep purple amethyst cabochons. The piece takes the form of a stylized zoomorphic or palmette-headed brooch, its broad fan-shaped head framed by flowing, incised lines that converge along a gently arched body, tapering to a rounded foot. Each amethyst gem is nestled within a raised circular bezel, their polished surfaces gleaming softly against the warm gold gilding of the silver base. The reverse reveals the original catch plate and hinge construction typical of the period, testifying to its function as both a garment fastener and a symbol of elite status. Fibulae of this type were worn by high-ranking individuals in the Merovingian kingdoms of early medieval Europe, blending Roman craftsmanship with Germanic artistic sensibility. Size: 2.4" L x 1.6" W (6.1 cm x 4.1 cm); silver quality: 90.7%; weight: 19.9 grams
This example captures the opulent yet restrained aesthetic of the 6th and 7th centuries, when jewelry served as both adornment and insignia - a mark of identity in an age of shifting powers and cultural synthesis.
Provenance: ex-T.F. Holy Lands collection, formed since the 1960s; ex-German collection, formed in the 1990s on the European art market
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
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#198996
- Condition: Missing pin on verso thus rendering unwearable. Encrustations to hinge. Some rubbing, nicks, and light surface wear as shown, all commensurate with age. Otherwise, nice presentation with good remaining gilding.
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