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Ruth Garrido Vila

ITEM: Arm holding a shield
MATERIAL: Bronze
CULTURE: Italic
PERIOD: 4th - 3rd Century B.C
DIMENSIONS: 225 mm x 265 mm x 85 mm (without stand)
CONDITION: Good condition. Includes stand
PROVENANCE: Ex Dutch private collection, acquired before 2000s

This remarkable bronze fragment features an armored arm gripping the handle of a circular shield, surviving as a powerful testament to the masterful metalworking traditions of the pre-Roman Italic peoples. Cast using the lost-wax technique, the musculature of the forearm is rendered with stylized yet potent tension, capturing the physical strain of combat. The surface has developed a beautiful, deep green malachite patina over centuries of burial, highlighting the crisp lines of the protective bracer or sleeve armor incised along the limb.

The shield itself retains its distinctive round curvature and defined rim, identifying it as a classic Italic type, likely a clipeus or a stylized round buckler favored by regional warriors and early hoplite-style infantries. Small rivets along the interior boundary of the circular disc indicate where a leather or wood lining was once secured to the heavy bronze exterior. This fragment speaks directly to a culture that deeply valued martial prowess, capturing a precise moment of defensive readiness frozen in metal.

Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and Export license

If you bid outside the European Union and win the item, we will have to apply for an export licence for your country and shipping will take 3 to 5 weeks.

4th - 3rd Century B.C

Italic Bronze Arm holding a shield - 22.5 cm

Archaeology

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Closing date

31 October

Sunday

1 November

Thursday

30 October

Wednesday

today

6 November

tomorrow

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7 November

5 November

Monday

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Spain

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S (10–40 cm)

M (40–80 cm)

L (over 80 cm)

Dimensions

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Object

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Country of origin

Netherlands

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Unknown

Asia

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Material

Bronze

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Good condition - used with some signs of wear

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Fair condition

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Natural

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Fair condition -  heavily used & with possibly minor parts missing

Good condition, see description

Period

1950-1960

2020+

1960-1970

1980-1990

1990-2000

Cretaceous, Lower (145 - 100.5 million years)

Tang Dynasty (618-907)

1970-1980

1920-1930

Paleogene, Eocene (56 - 33.9 million years)

Northern Song (960-1127)

1930-1940

Quaternary, Pleistocene (2.58 - 0.0117 million years)

Jurassic, Middle (174.1 - 163.5 million years)

1800-1850

1550-1600

21st century

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2000-2010

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15th century

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Certification

No laboratory report

Non-CITES species

Fineness

9 kt.

18 kt.

Subject

Archaeology

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Italic Bronze Arm holding a shield - 22.5 cm

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