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Source Description
Impressive Visigothic "fibulae" (pins) such as this one shaped as a stylized eagle looking skyward were worn in pairs at the shoulders. The "fibula" is studded with garnets and other semiprecious stones separated by thin gold filaments forming compartments (a technique known as "cloisonné"). The metal beneath the gems is cross-hatched to increase the refraction, and therefore the brilliance of the gems. Similar examples show that the tails were originally decorated with pearl pendants. The eagle was one of the most popular design motifs of the Migration period and was especially favored by the Goths.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
2724
label
Eagle Fibula
core
obj
dtoType
object
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
2724
sourceUrl
contentType
object
stage
normalized
title
Eagle Fibula
description
Impressive Visigothic "fibulae" (pins) such as this one shaped as a stylized eagle looking skyward were worn in pairs at the shoulders. The "fibula" is studded with garnets and other semiprecious stones separated by thin gold filaments forming compartments (a technique known as "cloisonné"). The metal beneath the gems is cross-hatched to increase the refraction, and therefore the brilliance of the gems. Similar examples show that the tails were originally decorated with pearl pendants. The eagle was one of the most popular design motifs of the Migration period and was especially favored by the Goths.
provenance
Jacques Seligmann, Paris [date of acquisition unknown], by purchase; Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1910, by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
date
6th-early 7th century (Early Medieval)
citationUrl
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
genreSpecific
Metal
fibulae
imageCount
1
pageCount
1
source
import
dimensions
units
cm
width
10.9
height
4.8
depth
1.4
dimensionsRaw
H: 4 5/16 x W: 1 7/8 x D: 9/16 in. (10.9 x 4.8 x 1.4 cm)
Source extras
cul
Visigothic
med
Copper alloy, gilt copper alloy, gold foil, silver foil (?), garnet, glass, cuttlefish bone and/or shell
creator_ids
4764
collection_ids
MED
JWL
exhibition_ids
2054
1954
2107
358
2513
246
2704
2752
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
ca6793eb21f534ac