Merovingian Radiate Headed Fibula

Replica of a Frankish radiate headed fibula.

That faithful replica of a so-called zoomorphic bow fibula was made after a Frankish original from the Merovingian period.

The design of this Early Medieval bow brooch indicates southern German provenance, dated to the period between 550 and 650, which was the time, when the Alemannic areas increasingly came under Frankish influence.

Merovingian bow brooches of this type are called Seven button fibula.

The original of the Frankish Seven button brooch was originally made of silver with carnelian inlays instead of the eyes.
We offer this bow brooch replica in bronze and silver plated.

On the back of the Early Medieval bow brooch a solid needle is attached.

Dimensions of the Frankish bow brooch: 7 x 4 cm.
The needle has a length of 4 cm.

During the early Middle Ages fibulae of this type were mainly worn by West Germanic women and were widespread during the Merovingian period in Alemannic, Frankish and Thuringian territory.

Such bow brooches were part of the four-fibula costume which was typical of the Merovingian drapery in the West Germanic areas and consisted of two larger bow brooches in the lower part of the drapery and two smaller S-brooches in the upper part.