COLLECTION NAME:
The AMICA Library
mediaCollectionId
AMICO~1~1
The AMICA Library
Collection
true
AMICA ID:
MMA_.17.192.143-.146
amicoid
MMA_.17.192.143-.146
AMICA ID
false
AMICA Library Year:
2002
aly
2002
AMICA Library Year
false
Object Type:
Decorative Arts and Utilitarian Objects
oty
Decorative Arts and Utilitarian Objects
Object Type
false
Description:
The Romans referred to the people living beyond their borders as barbarians and often employed them as mercenary soldiers to safeguard the empire's borders. This group of objects?a set of three mounts for spear shafts and a belt buckle?were found in the grave of a barbarian warrior stationed in the Roman province of Gaul. Though the burial, located in Vermand, France, had been looted before its discovery by archaeologists in 1885, it remains unsurpassed among barbarian warrior graves in the number and quality of objects it held. Among its furnishings were an ax, spears, sword, and shield (the boss and handle of which also belong to the Museum's collection). The exceptional craftsmanship and rich design of the spear-shaft ornaments and buckle suggest they belonged to a high-ranking military leader. Cast into the pieces are intricate patterns of scrolls, rosettes, and fantastic animals. The surface is gilded, with vivid patterns created though niello inlays. The six-pointed interlaced star so prominent on one mount was not at this time a Jewish symbol ; it appears as a decorative motif in both Roman and Germanic art.
opd
The Romans referred to the people living beyond their borders as barbarians and often employed them as mercenary soldiers to safeguard the empire's borders. This group of objects?a set of three mounts for spear shafts and a belt buckle?were found in the grave of a barbarian warrior stationed in the Roman province of Gaul. Though the burial, located in Vermand, France, had been looted before its discovery by archaeologists in 1885, it remains unsurpassed among barbarian warrior graves in the number and quality of objects it held. Among its furnishings were an ax, spears, sword, and shield (the boss and handle of which also belong to the Museum's collection). The exceptional craftsmanship and rich design of the spear-shaft ornaments and buckle suggest they belonged to a high-ranking military leader. Cast into the pieces are intricate patterns of scrolls, rosettes, and fantastic animals. The surface is gilded, with vivid patterns created though niello inlays. The six-pointed interlaced star so prominent on one mount was not at this time a Jewish symbol ; it appears as a decorative motif in both Roman and Germanic art.
Description
false
Creator Nationality:
European; Roman Empire
crc
European; Roman Empire
Creator Nationality
false
Creator Name-CRT:
Provincial Roman
crt
Provincial Roman
Creator Name-CRT
false
Title:
The Vermand Treasure: Belt Buckle and Three Mounts for Spear Shafts
otn
The Vermand Treasure: Belt Buckle and Three Mounts for Spear Shafts
Title
false
View:
Principal view
rid
Principal view
View
false
Creation Date:
ca. 400
oct
ca. 400
Creation Date
false
Creation Start Date:
398
ocs
398
Creation Start Date
false
Creation End Date:
402
oce
402
Creation End Date
false
Materials and Techniques:
Silver gilt inlaid with niello
omd
Silver gilt inlaid with niello
Materials and Techniques
false
Creation Place:
Found in Vermand, France
ocp
Found in Vermand, France
Creation Place
false
Dimensions:
Buckle: L. 2 3/8 in. (6 cm), Spear shafts: L. 1 1/8 in. (3 cm) (.143), 3 3/4 in. (9.4 cm) (.144), 4 3/4 in. (12.2 cm) ( .145)
met
Buckle: L. 2 3/8 in. (6 cm), Spear shafts: L. 1 1/8 in. (3 cm) (.143), 3 3/4 in. (9.4 cm) (.144), 4 3/4 in. (12.2 cm) ( .145)
Dimensions
false
AMICA Contributor:
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
oon
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
AMICA Contributor
false
Owner Location:
New York, New York
oop
New York, New York
Owner Location
false
ID Number:
17.192.143?.146
ooa
17.192.143?.146
ID Number
false
Credit Line:
Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917
ooc
Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917
Credit Line
false
Copyright:
Copyright ? 2002 The Metropolitan Museum of Art. All rights reserved.
ors
Copyright ? 2002 The Metropolitan Museum of Art. All rights reserved.
Copyright
false
Rights:
orl
<a href="http://www.metmuseum.org/education/er_photo_lib.asp"target="_new">http://www.metmuseum.org/education/er_photo_lib.asp</a>
Rights
false
Related Image Identifier Link:
MMA_.h1_17.192.143-.146.tif
ril
MMA_.h1_17.192.143-.146.tif
Related Image Identifier Link
false