Early Medieval, Carolingian Bronze disc brooch with cross motif - 20 mm

"Early Medieval Carolingian Bronze Disc Fibula with Cross Decoration

Culture / Period: Early Medieval, Carolingian
Date / Period: Carolingian, 600–1000 A.D.
Material: Bronze
Dimensions: 20 mm
Condition: Good condition

No shipping outside theopean Union. Due to complex export regulations concerning cultural goods, this item cannot be shipped outside the EU. Please ensure you have a delivery address within theopean Union before placing a bid.

Provenance information:
Object Registration ID: 988

The current owner (S.N.J. S.) purchased the fibula from R.N. in Katwijk, the Netherlands.

The previous owner, R.N. from Katwijk, stated that the object had been in his collection since the 1990s. According to the previous owner, the object had previously been in a private collection in the Netherlands since the 1990s.

No further information concerning the earlier ownership history of the object was available from the previous owner.

Background Information:
Small circular bronze fibulae were practical dress accessories in Early Medievalope, serving to fasten garments while also providing a visible element of personal ornament. This example has a geometric cross-shaped design on its face, with four circular elements arranged symmetrically between the arms of the cross. The reverse preserves projecting elements associated with the original fastening construction.

Fibulae belonged to a well-established tradition of metal dress fittings and were produced by craftsmen using casting and finishing techniques suited to small personal objects. Their decoration ranged from relatively simple geometric patterns to more elaborate designs. Cross motifs became an important part of the visual vocabulary of Early Medievalope and could occur on jewellery and other personal objects, although the precise significance of the decoration on an individual fibula cannot be established without a secure archaeological context.

During the Carolingian period, networks of settlement, exchange and political authority connected extensive areas of western and centralope. Small bronze dress accessories circulated within this broader material culture and formed part of everyday clothing and personal appearance. Such objects combine practical function with the decorative traditions of their period.

As a surviving item of personal dress, this fibula provides a direct and physical link to Early Medieval daily life and to the people who once used small metal fittings of this kind as both functional and decorative elements of clothing."