Northern Italy, Tuscany, Etruscan culture, ca. 7th century BCE. A "navicella" brooch - navicella meaning "ship" - made of bent sheet bronze with a pin joined to the body through a spiral hinge. The form of the body resembles a deep-keeled boat. The incised lines on the exterior of this example help create the boat-like appearance, as they look like wooden boards. In this rare example, zoomorphic projections are at the sides and underside of the boat. Here they are encrusted, but another navicella fibula from Sardinia has projections in the form of deer and birds, giving us a clue as to what these may once have been. Fibulae were a distinctive piece of Etruscan fashion, and their detail and large size indicates that they were made to be prominently displayed as an outward sign of wealth. Size: 1.65" L x 2.75" W x 2" H (4.2 cm x 7 cm x 5.1 cm)

The Sardinian example referenced above is located in the Museo Archeologico Nazionale Cagliari, Sardinia.

Provenance: private Swiss collection

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#124138

Clasp is lost. Pin is present, with frozen movement. Nice remaining details, with pale green, encrusted patina over much of the surface.