No. 98439905

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Islamic Bronze Hair pin - Medieval 12th - 13th AD  (No Reserve Price)
Final bid
€ 101
10 weeks ago

Islamic Bronze Hair pin - Medieval 12th - 13th AD (No Reserve Price)

Bronze Hair Fork with Zoomorphic Finial – 12th-13th century – 100 mm – 20.47 g A rare and well-preserved medieval hair fork cast in bronze, featuring a bifurcated shaft and an ornate upper section with incised decoration. The terminal is shaped in a stylized zoomorphic form—possibly a horse or griffin—embellished with dotted patterns and a central perforation. These elements suggest both decorative and symbolic functions, possibly linked to status or regional identity. Hair forks of this kind were used to secure elaborate hairstyles, and examples with such intricately worked finials are associated with the Islamic world and Crusader-period Levantine cultures. The careful execution and ornamentation point to a personal item of notable craftsmanship, intended not only for utility but as a mark of elegance or ritual significance. • Material: Bronze • Dimensions: 100 × 19 × 5 mm • Weight: 20.47 g • Date: 12th–13th century CE • Condition: Excellent condition with minor surface wear and attractive green patina. Small losses to one prong tip and light encrustation consistent with age. An evocative personal ornament from the Crusader world, bearing witness to the intersection of beauty, utility, and cultural exchange. Provenance: Acquired in 2025 in Germany, from an old private German collection acquired in the 1980s.

No. 98439905

Sold
Islamic Bronze Hair pin - Medieval 12th - 13th AD  (No Reserve Price)

Islamic Bronze Hair pin - Medieval 12th - 13th AD (No Reserve Price)

Bronze Hair Fork with Zoomorphic Finial – 12th-13th century – 100 mm – 20.47 g

A rare and well-preserved medieval hair fork cast in bronze, featuring a bifurcated shaft and an ornate upper section with incised decoration. The terminal is shaped in a stylized zoomorphic form—possibly a horse or griffin—embellished with dotted patterns and a central perforation. These elements suggest both decorative and symbolic functions, possibly linked to status or regional identity.

Hair forks of this kind were used to secure elaborate hairstyles, and examples with such intricately worked finials are associated with the Islamic world and Crusader-period Levantine cultures. The careful execution and ornamentation point to a personal item of notable craftsmanship, intended not only for utility but as a mark of elegance or ritual significance.
• Material: Bronze
• Dimensions: 100 × 19 × 5 mm
• Weight: 20.47 g
• Date: 12th–13th century CE
• Condition: Excellent condition with minor surface wear and attractive green patina. Small losses to one prong tip and light encrustation consistent with age.

An evocative personal ornament from the Crusader world, bearing witness to the intersection of beauty, utility, and cultural exchange.

Provenance: Acquired in 2025 in Germany, from an old private German collection acquired in the 1980s.

Final bid
€ 101
Ruth Garrido Vila
Expert
Estimate  € 150 - € 200

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