La Têne Culture Bronze Fibula of the Jezerine type

La Têne Culture III, c. 35 BC - 1 BC, Western or Central Europe.

Exceptional, important and rare Jezerine type fibula featuring a spring with four coils and an internal chord. Wide flat ribbon-like bow with high even arch, embellished with grooves or beading along its length, above a small ornamental knot of thin horizontal band, narrowing to thin foot with a squarish pierced catch plate. A fibula (plural fibulae) is a brooch or pin for fastening garments, typically at the right shoulder. The fibula developed in a variety of shapes, but all were based on the safety-pin principle. In ancient Rome and other places where Latin was used, the same word denoted both a brooch and the fibula bone because a popular form for brooches and the shape of the bone were thought to resemble one another. Some fibulae were also sometimes used as votive gifts for gods. 

Jezerine-type fibulae were products of Roman provenance with origins in the traditions of Celtic craftsmanship. This type of La Têne III fibula first appears c. 35 BC and their use appears to drop off significantly by AD 10/20. Jezerine fibula have been recorded in a wide European area, from the western part of the Mediterranean basin throughout all of continental Europe to the Baltic, and a large number of them originated in eastern Slavonia, Syrmia and northern Serbia, an area that, in the Late Iron Age, was inhabited by a political group known from ancient literary sources as the Scordisci. La Tène was the second phase of European Iron Age and Celtic culture (c. 480 - 50 BC). The La Tène culture was the height of Celtic power and was characterized by hill forts, elaborated rich burials and skilled craftsman. The Le Tène Celts were highly war-like, hierarchically organized with kings, a priestly class (the Druids), warriors, farmers and slaves. They ruled central Europe in the 4th and 3rd centuries B.C., but by 50 B.C. they had been defeated and were dominated by Germans coming from the north and Romans from the south.

Excellent condition. Wear consistent with age. Some surface scratches and corrosion. Fissure in the catch plate. Complete with original working pin. Beautiful greenish russet patina. Size approx. 6,5cm x 2,6 x 1,1cm. 

Provenance: Private collection from Sweden.

For a similar examples see:

Brooch, The British Museum, Accession Number: 1868,1228.332 (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/H_1868-1228-332)

References and further reading:

Jezerine Fibula 125 B.C. - 40 A.D., NumisWiki - The Collaborative Numismatics Project, Forum Ancient Coins. (https://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=Jezerine%20Fibula)

European Prehistory: A Survey (Interdisciplinary Contributions to Archaeology), Sarunas Milisauskas, 2012, p. 354.