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Source Description
The bow of this gold crossbow fibula is inlaid with an inscription in niello. The top of the bow has a vine-scroll in niello, which contains a small bird. The crossbar with bead finials has been broken and repaired. The pin is missing. Gold fibulae with inscriptions seem to have been special gifts, and several are identified as gifts from Constantine and other emperors. The present inscription has been shown by Van Buchem to be a Christian motto referring to the afterlife.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
7101
label
Fibula
core
obj
dtoType
object
citationUrl
pageCount
2
Source metadata
id
7101
sourceUrl
contentType
object
stage
normalized
title
Fibula
description
The bow of this gold crossbow fibula is inlaid with an inscription in niello. The top of the bow has a vine-scroll in niello, which contains a small bird. The crossbar with bead finials has been broken and repaired. The pin is missing. Gold fibulae with inscriptions seem to have been special gifts, and several are identified as gifts from Constantine and other emperors. The present inscription has been shown by Van Buchem to be a Christian motto referring to the afterlife.
provenance
Henri Daguerre, Paris [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1924, by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
date
4th century (Late Antique)
citationUrl
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
genreSpecific
Gold, Silver & Jewelry
fibulae
imageCount
2
pageCount
2
source
import
dimensions
units
cm
width
5
height
4.5
dimensionsRaw
L: 1 15/16 x W: 1 3/4 in. (5 x 4.5 cm)
Source extras
cul
Late Antique
inscriptions
[Transcription] VIVAS/VIATOR[Translation] Good Luck/Traveler
med
gold, niello
creator_ids
6640
collection_ids
BYZ
JWL
exhibition_ids
2513
246
2752
Page inventory
seq
1
type
photo
mediaId
36b31e2ef3839d3a
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
2
type
photo
mediaId
7083ac619fa1f834
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no