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Circular Brooch
Italian
Early medieval
first half of the 7th century
Object Place: Europe, Italy
Medium/Technique
Gold and colored glass
Credit Line
Edwin E. Jack Fund
Accession Number59.13
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsEurope
ClassificationsGlass
DescriptionThe brooch is made of a circular gold plate with soldered gold cloisons filled with glass on the front and a twisted cable around the edge. Cloisons from a central rosette with eight green petals surrounded by three concentric bands. The innermost of the bands has rectangular cells filled with alternating red, green, white, and yellow glasses. The second is composed of triangular sections of alternating blue and millefiori glasses, and the outer band is a series of empty curved cells. On the back are soldered two gold rings to hold the pin and a curved piece of gold decorated with filigree to serve as the catch. A third loop, probably used at a later date for suspending the brooch, is modern.
ProvenanceBy 1902, Sir Thomas Gibson Carmichael; May 13, 1902, sold at Carmichael sale, Christie's, London, lot 189. By 1929, Marc Rosenberg, Baden-Baden, Germany; November 4, 1929, Rosenberg sale, Graupe-Ball, Berlin, lot 120. L. Burg, London. 1959, Otto Wertheimer (dealer; b. 1896 - d. 1973), Paris; 1959, sold by Wertheimer to the MFA for $3500. (Accession date: January 8, 1959)