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LOT 0300
Frankish Bronze Buckle with Face and Globular Rivets
6TH-7TH CENTURY A.D.
4 3/4 x 4 in. (105 grams total, 12 x 10 cm).
The roughly D-shaped body engraved with a three-armed geometric motif, a dome between each arm, the articulate tongue with headplate engraved with a stylised hooded face or ithyphallic motif(?), oval buckle engraved with clusters of vertical lines; three pierced attachment lugs to reverse.
Provenancewith Paris Hôtel Drouot, 12 July 2005, lot 152.
Private collection, Europe.
Cf. The Metropolitan Museum, New York, accession number 17.191.223, for similar.
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AUCTIONS:
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Merovingian Bronze Eagle Brooch
5th-6th century A.D.Estimate: £200 - 300 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £111
Bird in profile facing left with highly stylised geometric detailing; remains of pin lug and catchplate to reverse. 6.29 grams, 41 mm
‘The Ancient Menagerie Collection’ formerly the property of a Cambridgeshire lady, collected since the 1990s and acquired from auctions and dealers throughout Europe and the USA, now ex London collection. -
Alemannic Silver-Gilt S-Shaped Bird Brooch
Late 6th-early 7th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £520
With raised borders and median band, all decorated with triangular punchmarks and niello fill; gilt chip-carved band detailing; discoid cell at each end with garnet cloison 'eye' (one absent); pin-lug and catch to the reverse. 3.88 grams, 31 mm
Acquired early 1990s. From an East Anglian private collection.
A classic development of the S-fibula with bird-head detailing. -
'The Boxford' Frankish Silver Published Radiate Brooch Fragment
6th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £59
Consisting of part of the semi-circular headplate embellished with three radiating knops and a band of geometric swirls, arched bow with raised rib and boss. 7.88 grams, 35 mm
Found near Boxford, West Berkshire, UK, in 2001. Accompanied by various correspondence with West Berkshire Council and the British Museum, including a letter disclaiming the brooch as treasure dated 22nd November 2001, BM Treasure case: 2001 T1. Accompanied by PAS record id. PAS-D36287.
The brooch is similar to Rhineland examples from Andernach and Bonn, Germany (H Kühn, Die germanischen Bügelfibeln der Völkerwanderungszeit in der Rheinprovinz(Bonn, 1940), Taf. 67: 6,3; 6,5; 6,6). However, a more ovoid form ending in an animal head is not impossible.
