CIRCA LATE 6TH CENTURY A.D.
Details
A MEROVINGIAN GILT BRONZE BOW BROOCH
circa late 6th century a.d.
Cast with a rectangular box-like head plate, perforated for attachment of eight now-missing knobs, iron incrustation on the interior from the original rivets, decorated with four symmetrically placed animals with ribbon-like interlaced bodies, the bow with two panels of ribbon guilloche divided by a rib with interlocking triangles, the oval foot-plate with four animals of similar style with interlaced bodies, the terminal in high relief with an animal mask, the edge of the brooch with a border of interlocking triangles with traces of niello inlay
4 1/16 in. (10.3 cm.) long
circa late 6th century a.d.
Cast with a rectangular box-like head plate, perforated for attachment of eight now-missing knobs, iron incrustation on the interior from the original rivets, decorated with four symmetrically placed animals with ribbon-like interlaced bodies, the bow with two panels of ribbon guilloche divided by a rib with interlocking triangles, the oval foot-plate with four animals of similar style with interlaced bodies, the terminal in high relief with an animal mask, the edge of the brooch with a border of interlocking triangles with traces of niello inlay
4 1/16 in. (10.3 cm.) long
Provenance
Found in a Merovingian cemetery between 1850 and 1857 at Bad Dürkheim in Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
Later with the dealer Altmann, Mainz
Sotheby's London, 29 November 1965, lot 18.
John Hewitt, London
Later with the dealer Altmann, Mainz
Sotheby's London, 29 November 1965, lot 18.
John Hewitt, London
Literature
Lindenschmit, Alterthümer Unserer Heidnischen Vorzeit, vol. 1, part 10, pl. 8, no. 6.
Heydeck, "Das Graberfeld von Daumen, Prussia," Sitzungsbericht der Altertumsgessellschaft Prussia, p. 17.1.
ØAberg, The Anglo-Saxons in England during the Early Centuries after the Invasion, fig. 247.
Kühn, "Die germanischen Greifenschnallen Völkerwanderungszeit," IPEK,, p. 112, pl. 21:13
Kühn, Die Germanischen Bügelfibeln der Völkerwanderungszeit in der Rheinprovinz, p. 269, pl. 98.
Kühn, Die Germanischen Bügelfibeln der Völkerwanderungszeit in Süddeutschland, p. 144.
Haseloff, Die Germanische Tierornamentik der Völkerwanderungszeit, 11.661-6.
Göldner, Studien zu Rhein - und Moselfränkischen Bügelfibeln, I pp. 223-225, pl. 34a, II p. 15, no. 66.
Heydeck, "Das Graberfeld von Daumen, Prussia," Sitzungsbericht der Altertumsgessellschaft Prussia, p. 17.1.
ØAberg, The Anglo-Saxons in England during the Early Centuries after the Invasion, fig. 247.
Kühn, "Die germanischen Greifenschnallen Völkerwanderungszeit," IPEK,, p. 112, pl. 21:13
Kühn, Die Germanischen Bügelfibeln der Völkerwanderungszeit in der Rheinprovinz, p. 269, pl. 98.
Kühn, Die Germanischen Bügelfibeln der Völkerwanderungszeit in Süddeutschland, p. 144.
Haseloff, Die Germanische Tierornamentik der Völkerwanderungszeit, 11.661-6.
Göldner, Studien zu Rhein - und Moselfränkischen Bügelfibeln, I pp. 223-225, pl. 34a, II p. 15, no. 66.