Navicella Fibula

1 of 2

Artist
Name	Unknown
Basic Info
Period	Iron Age
Created in	Ancient & Byzantine World, Europe, North Italy
Century	7th-6th century BCE
Culture	Italic
Dimensions	7.5 cm (2 15/16 in.)
Harvard Museum
Department	Department of Ancient and Byzantine Art & Numismatics
Division	Asian and Mediterranean Art
Contact	am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu

Context

This navicella fibula fragment consists of a bow and catchplate, missing only the spring and pin. The bow is similar to the navicella types in shape, although much flatter and shallower on the underside. A spherical knob and thin raised disc project from either side of the bow. A similar knob and raised disc are present at the end of the catchplate (1). It is not clear that the bow and associated spring and pin were part of the same original object.
 
NOTES:
 
1. Compare A. Naso, I bronzi etruschi e italici del Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum, Kataloge vor- und frühgeschichtlicher Altertümer 33 (Mainz, 2003) 259-60 and 263-65, nos. 472, 474, 483, 486, and 489, pls. 103-104.
 
Lisa M. Anderson

TechnicalDetails

Technical Observations

The patina of the bow and catchplate (1984.702.A) is crusty, pitted, and characterized by various greens. The patina of the pin and spring section (1984.702.B) is dark greenish brown with large pits of green and red. Both sections of the fibula have losses and do not join. The bow and catchplate section was cast by the lost-wax process. The pin and spring were made from hammered wire.
 
Carol Snow (submitted 2002)

Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Gift of Mrs. Beatrice Kelekian in memory of her husband, Charles Dikran Kelekian