Pair of Eagle FibulaVisigothicSixth century CEGold over bronze with gemstones, glass, and meerschaum

Pair of Eagle Fibula
Visigothic
Sixth century CE
Gold over bronze with gemstones, glass, and meerschaum (a soft white mineral)

“Walters 54.421 and 54.422 are a pair of superb eagle-shaped fibula found at Tierra de Barros (Badajoz, southwest Spain) made of sheet gold over bronze inlaid with garnets, amethysts, and colored glass. Pendants once dangled from the loops at the bottom. The eagle, a popular symbol during the Migration period adopted from Roman imperial insignia, was favored by the Goths. Similar eagle-shaped fibulae have been excavated from Visigothic graves in Spain and Ostrogothic graves in northern Italy, but this pair is one of the finest. These fibula would have been worn at the same time to fasten a cloak at either shoulder.”

In the collection of the Walters Art Museum. Image and description taken from the object’s page on the Walters Art Museum website. Visit the objects’ page for additional images and zoom capability.