£5,796
Auction: 31 May 2023 at 15:00 BST
bronze wire, the base of the fibula formed of a single large spiral below a bow with eight smaller lateral spirals, which are attached to the central bow by three cuffs, the head formed into a loop with a quadruple spiral, the reverse with surviving pin
Provenance:
Private collection, Walton-on-Thames, acquired 1930-1970s
Private collection, United Kingdom, acquired from the above 1970s
Note:
The spiral motif is a prevalent feature of Bronze Age art across Europe, particularly in the Late Bronze Age around 1300-700 B.C. The spiral is believed to have held symbolic meaning, and its presence in various forms of art suggests that it held significance for people during this period. Its importance is widely debated, but it is often associated with notions of cyclical time, movement, and transformation.
The significance of the spiral in Bronze Age art may have also been influenced by the materials and techniques used in its production. Bronze Age artisans were skilled in the creation of intricate metalwork, and the spiral may have been seen as a way to showcase their technical abilities. It is also possible that the spiral was used as a decorative element to enhance the beauty and value of objects, such as jewellery and weapons.