Central Europe, Goths, ca. 5th century CE. A gorgeous and very classic example of a Gothic silver fibula, made for a high status man or woman. It is formed of a half-circle headplate with spoked grooves and five projecting knobs. Below that is an arched bow with a pronounced central ridge, and below that is a long, pointed foot plate decorated with grooves and abstract geometric motifs. One red, round cabochon garnet is at the top, and two others are at the sides, inset into silver. Comes with custom stand. Size: 2.25" W x 3.75" H (5.7 cm x 9.5 cm); height on stand: 4.85" (12.3 cm) (19.8 g)

The Goths were a loose confederation of pagan (sometimes called "barbarian") tribes who are sometimes credited with taking down Rome through their military exploits and who continued to be a powerful force in Central Europe through the Migration and early medieval periods. Precious metal and red stones were often used in Gothic jewelry to denote the most elite individuals. The Goths learned the method of inlaying stones from their contact with Greek colonies along the Black Sea, as at Panticapeon (modern Kerch in Crimea), who had in turn inherited the practice from trade with migrating tribes in the South Russian plains around the 3rd century BCE and who catered to pagan clients throughout the Hellenistic and Roman periods. The garnets themselves probably originated in Burma and traveled to European shores via India and the Silk Road. The Goths quickly became consumers of beautiful items like this one, which would have been used to fasten a mantle at the shoulder.

Cf. J. Werner, "Studien zu Grabfunden des V Jahrhunderts aus der Slovakai und der Karpatenukraine" SLA, 1959, p. 427-431. See also: A. Aibabin, “Ethnischegeschichte der Fruhbyzantinischen Krim”, 1999, pp. 309, table XXV, 10; R. Herzog, A. Koller, Die Alamannen, Stuttgart, 1997, p. 189.

Provenance: ex-private collection from Vienna, Austria, acquired in the 1980s

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#123482

Pin is missing, with clip for holding pin reattached. Iron patina on clip; patina/tarnish on silver surface. Slight bending to form and small puncture through silver near center of piece.