A HELLENISTIC GOLD DISC FIBULA, with a repoussé head of a maenad turned to the right, her wavy locks of hair entwined with grapes and vine leaves, wearing a twisted necklace, the border of spiral beaded wire, the loop on the lower edge perhaps originally for a pendant, a v-shaped 'trap-door' on the reverse to allow for air expansion during soldering and perhaps subsequent filling with a supporting material, with remains of clasp mechanism, pin missing, circa 2nd-1st Century B.C. | Christie's

Lot 306

306

A HELLENISTIC GOLD DISC FIBULA, with a repoussé head of a maenad turned to the right, her wavy locks of hair entwined with grapes and vine leaves, wearing a twisted necklace, the border of spiral beaded wire, the loop on the lower edge perhaps originally for a pendant, a v-shaped 'trap-door' on the reverse to allow for air expansion during soldering and perhaps subsequent filling with a supporting material, with remains of clasp mechanism, pin missing, circa 2nd-1st Century B.C.

Details

A HELLENISTIC GOLD DISC FIBULA, with a repoussé head of a maenad turned to the right, her wavy locks of hair entwined with grapes and vine leaves, wearing a twisted necklace, the border of spiral beaded wire, the loop on the lower edge perhaps originally for a pendant, a v-shaped 'trap-door' on the reverse to allow for air expansion during soldering and perhaps subsequent filling with a supporting material, with remains of clasp mechanism, pin missing, circa 2nd-1st Century B.C.
1in. (2.7cm.) diam.

Lot Essay

The figural disc is a well-known form in late Hellenistic jewellery, although fibulae are uncommon.

Cf. Marshall, no. 2063, p. 231, pl. XL

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