Large Greek Geometric Bronze Spiral Fibula

With burnished deep brown surfaces, the body tapering to a flat foot, the shoulders decorated with vertical ribbing, short neck with flared mouth; wide openwork handle perforated with small triangles and rectangles, hatched bands along the edges of the handle and the perforations. 1.1 kg, 24 cm



Acquired from Mr Eugene Berman circa 1960. From the private collection of Mr Ulfert Wilke. In the collection of Dr Howard Sirak, Columbus, Ohio, USA; acquired from the above in 1969. Ancient Resource Auctions, California, USA, May 2020. Property of a South Australian private collector, with collection reference 20.02. Accompanied by a detailed collector's catalogue page including description and photograph. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

The de Puma catalogue cites this piece as no. 5.5 from the Sirak Collection (original sticker is on base; note De Puma’s appraisal does not provide a concordance with Wilke). The catalogue was for the exhibition at the University of Iowa Museum of Art from 17 March to 30 April 1971. Richard De Puma appraised Sirak’s collection of ancient pottery on 18 September 1979; Inv. 20.02 was noted as appraisal item 15 and valued at USD 650. Old collection sticker '188' on base; overlain is sticker from Sirak collection, 'LR 3V'. Sticker 147B refers to the lot number for the first time it was offered at auction by Ancient Resource Auctions in 2015.

Comprising a thick round-section bow tapering to each end; the forward end developing to a two-coiled spring and pin, the rear to a rectangular catchplate with flanges to the upper and lower edges, a long spike finial; the catch with incised geometric ornament. 10.7 grams, 83 mm



with H.A.C., Basel, prior 1999. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

Modelled in the round standing erect with right hand on his hip and left arm extending from the elbow resting on the left hip and with fingers curled to hold a staff or handle, wearing a loosely draped cloth over the left shoulder and drawn around the body to hang over the arms; ribbed cuffs to the boots; youthful face with tousled hair and slightly exaggerated lentoid eyes; C-shaped staple beneath the feet for attachment; supplied with a custom-made display stand. 506 grams total, 18.7 cm including stand



with Sotheby’s, Antiquities, London, 6 July 1995, no.130. Acquired by the present owner at the above sale. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12194-222321. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

The statue was probably a cult offering and presents an archaic Etruscan hairstyle, being part of the Italic statuettes produced as votive offering to the temples or for private lararia. His warrior status can be confirmed by his boots, typical of Etruscan and Latin warriors of archaic times.