Monumental Brooch of the “Posamenterie Type”

Culture: Central Europe

Period: Urnfield Period, 1100-1000 B.C.

Material: Bronze

Dimensions: 30.7 cm high

Price: 16 000 Euro

Ref: 5236

Provenance: German private collection N. H., Munich, Germany, acquired in the 1990s. Thence with Harmakhis gallery in Belgium. There acquired by an English collection in 2015.

Condition: The tip of the needle minimally bent, otherwise beautifully preserved.

Description: Spectacular and extraordinarily large brooch of the “Posamenterie” type with eight small and one large end spiral. The outer coils of all nine spirals are finely engraved. The large end spiral, the loop as well as the needle are made of a thick bronze wire with alternating sections. While the wire in the outer coils of the spiral are at first angular, it evolves in the inside of the spiral to a round bronze wire. The loop also has a round section. From the small spirals the two outer ones, as well as the two inner ones each form a pair of double spirals made of an angular bronze wire. The elements are connected with three massive claps. This very concise Posamenterie technique seems to have been used in the region of present Slovakia. The brooches were an important part of the festive costume. On a metal base.