Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 4th century CE. A fine trio of silver tutulus shaped fibulae with similar forms; a central conical shape with small arms that protrude from the edge with balls surmounted on the tips. The largest fibula is comprised of 80% silver and has a gilded ball on the top of the conical body, and an applied filigree and granulated rope pattern encircling the cone shape and on each of the thirteen arms. Two applied loops enabled the fibula to be suspended from a chain or even to connect with another fibula. The second one is nearly identical to the largest and comprised of 21% to 68% silver with a gilded central ball, eight arms and retains the original pin clasp on the backside. The smallest is 65% to 85% silver, with ten arms, and lacks the twin loops and does not contain gilding on the central ball. Size (largest): 2.25" Diameter x 1" H (5.7 cm x 2.5 cm); quality of silver (smallest to largest): 65-86%, 21-68%, 80%; quality of gold gilding: 79.81%, 81.61%; total weight of all in grams: 51.1

Fibulae could be ornate such as these beautiful examples, to show off wealth and status, but they served a useful purpose for pinning and securing clothing or cloaks in place. Tutulus is the name of the Roman hairstyle where the hair was coiled in a conical shaped bun at the top of the head. The tutulus is also the name for a conical shaped cap that Etruscan woman would wear and may have inspire the later Roman hairstyle and the shape of these fibulae.

For a similar piece please see the Harvard Art Museums collection accession number: 2012.1.105

Provenance: ex-Phoenicia Holyland Antiquities; ex-Edgar L. Owen, collected on November 6 1997, lot # 252.

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#157286

Loss to arm and pin on larger one. Fissure and loosening to one arm on second largest fibulae. Smallest is missing pin and loops. Heavy patina on all.