The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 18, 2025

Pair of Fibulae

500s-600s

Alemannic, Migration Period, 6th-7th century

cast silver, parcel-gilt, with niello
Overall: 10.5 x 6.5 x 2 cm (4 1/8 x 2 9/16 x 13/16 in.)
Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 2000.119
Location: 106A Migration Period & Coptic

Description

A woman of high rank might have worn these twin fibulae on her shoulders, one fastening her inner garment on the right, the other her outer garment on the left. She might also have suspended them from her belt as decorative ornaments.
  • Marcus Hollersberger, Munich; [Artemis Fine Art, London]; [Robert Haber & Associates, New York]
  • Cleveland Museum of Art, “Recent Acquisitions Press Release,” December 12, 2000, Cleveland Museum of Art Archives. Mentioned: p. 2 archive.org
    Fliegel, Stephen N., "Wearable Wealth." Cleveland Art: The Cleveland Museum of Art Members Magazine. 42, no. 04 (April 2002): 8-9. Mentioned and reproduced: p. 9 archive.org
    Cleveland Museum of Art, and Holger A. Klein. Sacred Gifts and Worldly Treasures: Medieval Masterworks from the Cleveland Museum of Art. Cleveland, Ohio: Cleveland Museum of Art, 2007. Mentioned and reproduced: P. 108-109, no. 34
  • {{cite web|title=Pair of Fibulae|url=false|author=|year=500s-600s|access-date=18 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2000.119