**Originally Listed At $2500**

Southern Europe, Hallstatt culture, Bronze Age, ca. 1200 to 800 BCE. A fantastic bronze fibula consisting of a thick wire that is skillfully shaped into a very intricate and serpentine form. Comprised of one thick wire- starting at the large spiral which is formed by meticulously twisting the wire in a rotational fashion- the outer end extends up and curves inward as a catch for the pin. This wire continues in elegant twists below a thick handle or boat shaped section that slightly arches outward, before narrowing into a tight coil as a spring, and finally the relatively straight pin extending downward behind the large spiral- a mesmerizing, snaking maze of coils and loops! Ornate fibula such as this example, were often buried with their owners to accompany them in the afterlife. Size: 4.25" L (10.8 cm); custom display stand included. Size: 4" L x 1.25" W (10.2 cm x 3.2 cm); 4.75" H (12.1 cm) on included custom stand.

Hallstatt culture developed from the earlier Urnfield culture, and would progress into the later La Tene culture, which is often called Celtic. However, these names and classifications have been imposed upon ancient peoples by archaeologists and historians (Hallstatt, for example, takes its name from the type site, which is located in Austria southeast of Salzburg). 2700 years ago, these people lived in small groups, probably loosely confederated for trading purposes but engaging in frequent warfare.

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Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; ex-Mark and Lottie Salton collection, Hartsdale, New York, USA, from the 1950s to 1960s

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#170395

Surface is cleaned and lightly polished. Intact and excellent, with a deep green patina.