c.8th-7th century BC. A bronze leech fibula with short foot; pin absent. See the Metropolitan Meum of Art, accession number 1991.171.3, for a larger example; see Hencken, Tarquinia and Etrcan Origins, pl. 137, for a parallel from the Meo Archeologico Nazionale di Firenze. 12 grams, 35mm (1 1/4"). Treasuregate, Art of the Ancients, Brsels, Belgium. Apanied by an illtrated certificate of authenticity issued by Treasuregate. Archea Gallery, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Exhibited PAN Amsterdam in 2001. Private Atralian collection. Apanied by a copy of the previo collector's cataloguing document. Fibulae are found in large numbers in tombs dating from Early Iron Age Italy from the 9th to the 7th century BC. This simple fibula is of the sanguisuga (‘leech’) type with arched bows and closed undersides. De Puma, Etrcan Art, p. 34, notes that sanguisuga fibulae were ed almost exclively by females from the end of the 9th century and are probably the mostmon type of fibula in the late Villanovan and Etrcan periods. He also suggested that while fibulae might have held transverse cloaks at one shoulder, smaller ones such as this might have pinned veils and scarves in place around the head. [No Reserve] For this specific lot, 5% import VAT is applicable on the hammer price