GENERAL DESCRIPTION
One of the most popular types of Etruscan jewelry is the fibula, a garment fastener consisting of a straight pin coiled to form a spring at one end, a catchplate that secures the pin at the other end, and a decorative element that holds pin and catchplate together. Fibulae in the shape of leeches (Italian "sanguisuga"), or boats were very common in Etruria during the 7th century BCE.
Like this example, they generally have a bow-shaped head and straight foot, derived from Villanovan bow-shaped brooches. With its extremely small and delicate granulated ornament, this large, boat-shaped fibula is one of the finest in the Dallas Museum of Art's collections. In the granulation technique, minute globules of gold were dropped upon a resin base on the object to be decorated. Once the piece was heated, the resin base evaporated, leaving the granulation pattern fused with the base. This piece is decorated with a guilloche (rope) pattern surrounded by an overall field of granulation. Inscribed in Etruscan lettering on the inside of the rim is mi mula arathia lethana chailus prasnaia.
Adapted from
- Barbara Deppert-Lippitz, Ancient Gold Jewelry at the Dallas Museum of Art (Dallas: Dallas Museum of Art in association with the University of Washington Press, 1996), 34; 122-23.
- Anne R. Bromberg, and Karl Kilinski II, Gods, Men, and Heroes: Ancient Art at the Dallas Museum of Art. (Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1996), 110.
NOTES
READ
- updated provenance and geo x ref
- added "Ancient Gold Jewelry" publication as a text entry in TMS. Moved Gods Men Heroes entry from public notes to text entry
Catalogue essays
Artist/designers
Cultures
Geography
Process/materials
Historical periods
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RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
Until 1991: probably Collection of Dr. Athos Moretti, Switzerland (presented by Robert Haber, New York) [1]
From 1991: Dallas Museum of Art, The Eugene and Margaret McDermott Art Fund, Inc.
[1] based on existing provenance entry in TMS
AUDIO ASSETS
VIDEO ASSETS
IMAGE ASSETS
WEB RESOURCES
ARCHIVAL RESOURCES
FUN FACTS
- Jewelry was far more than merely ornament to the Etruscans; it was often close to being a magic charm or amulet and implied the protection of the gods.
- An incised inscription on the back or inside the catchplate of an Etruscan fibula is rare.
TEACHING IDEAS
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Apply to objects where number equals 1991.75.5
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General Description
One of the most popular types of Etruscan jewelry is the fibula, a garment fastener consisting of a straight pin coiled to form a spring at one end, a catchplate that secures the pin at the other end, and a decorative element that holds pin and catchplate together. Fibulae in the shape of leeches (Italian "sanguisuga"), or boats were very common in Etruria during the 7th century BCE.
Like this example, they generally have a bow-shaped head and straight foot, derived from Villanovan bow-shaped brooches. With its extremely small and delicate granulated ornament, this large, boat-shaped fibula is one of the finest in the Dallas Museum of Art's collections. In the granulation technique, minute globules of gold were dropped upon a resin base on the object to be decorated. Once the piece was heated, the resin base evaporated, leaving the granulation pattern fused with the base. This piece is decorated with a guilloche (rope) pattern surrounded by an overall field of granulation. Inscribed in Etruscan lettering on the inside of the rim is mi mula arathia lethana chailus prasnaia.
Adapted from
- Barbara Deppert-Lippitz, Ancient Gold Jewelry at the Dallas Museum of Art (Dallas: Dallas Museum of Art in association with the University of Washington Press, 1996), 34; 122-23.
- Anne R. Bromberg, and Karl Kilinski II, Gods, Men, and Heroes: Ancient Art at the Dallas Museum of Art. (Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1996), 110.
Fun Facts
- Jewelry was far more than merely ornament to the Etruscans; it was often close to being a magic charm or amulet and implied the protection of the gods.
- An incised inscription on the back or inside the catchplate of an Etruscan fibula is rare.
Archival Resources
Web Resources
Notes
READ
- updated provenance and geo x ref
- added "Ancient Gold Jewelry" publication as a text entry in TMS. Moved Gods Men Heroes entry from public notes to text entry
Catalogue essays
Artist/designers
Cultures
Geography
Process/materials
Historical periods
Individuals
Subject terms
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
Until 1991: probably Collection of Dr. Athos Moretti, Switzerland (presented by Robert Haber, New York) [1]
From 1991: Dallas Museum of Art, The Eugene and Margaret McDermott Art Fund, Inc.
[1] based on existing provenance entry in TMS
AUDIO ASSETS
VIDEO ASSETS
rules
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Objects
number
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1991.75.5
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object_notes_2_b-0116.xml.nores