Lot 2153

Lot 2153
An attractive enamelled early medieval disk fibula, so-called 'Grubenschmelz-Heiligenfibel' (saint fibula), depicting a schematic bust of a saint with ‘blessing hands’. Dating of this very interesting piece is in the Early Middle Ages (ca. AD 750-900), originating from the Frisian North Sea coast. Distribution area of this kind of fubulae is in the mouth of the Rhine, along the North Sea coast to Haitahbu (Hedeby) in the west and bounded in the east by the Elbe, in the south by the line Mainz-Trier. We see find concentrations in Friesland and along the Rhine. ‘Grubenschmelz’ means that the metal of the fibula is deepened inwards and is filled with coloured and molten enamel. This beautifukl oval piece measures 26x28 mm., with the needle missing. Professionally preserved, museum piece! Literature and dating argumentation: Frick dates the champlevé saints fibulae between 750 and 850, but much datable contextual data is not available; it is argued that they show many similarities with the cloisonné saints fibulae and thus possibly date the same (Frick 1992/93, 296). Bos dates a fibula (with baseline: the 'Frisian North Sea coast type') based on an associated excavated settlement between 850-900 (Bos 2008, 768, type 2.7.1.4), which is slightly later than Frick's date, but corresponds to the dating of Wamers (Wamers 1994, 594). Given the limited dating information, a broad dating between 750 and 900 is used here.
Starting price: € 500.00
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Oct 15 2021 03:00:00 PM
Nov 15 2021 06:00:00 PM
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