Fibula (Pin)

Gold fibula of "navicella" type. All decoration is of granulation in either lines or outline. Hollow arc ornamented on outer surface with rosette of four large and four small leaves of granulated outline. In the curves between each angle of the navicella is a palmette base in outline technique. On each angle is a lozenge-shaped ornament in outline technique. The catch plate is oblong and tapers toward the end. Both top and bottom are bent over to form corners and three sides of a rectangle. THe ornamentation on the exterior face consists of granulated frame enclosing a repeated floral frieze. The pin is broken away from the spring which is, at present, of two turns. Originally this was covered by a reddish-brown resinous coating which has been recently removed. A peculiarity of technique is found along the lines of granulation: the surface is rather bubbly when viewed under magnificaton. Perhaps the jeweler was forced to heat the whole fibula almost to the melting point along the line of granulation in order to attach them. Intact, except for missing pin. Spiral spring. Vert short, thickened leech-type bow. Very long catchplate. Very fine granulated decoration on both bow and carch-plate. On top of bow an 8 petal rosette. On the 4 sides of the bow is a kidney-shaped design. On the side of the catch-plate is a running spiral.