Fibula

first half 20th century

Not on view

Once part of a pair, this fibula would have been used by a woman to pin a draped garment at the shoulder. Fibulae (khlal or khella) such as these were worn as part of an entire suite of jewelry including necklaces, head adornments, ear and temple jewels, and others. This unassuming, classical form was among the most popular, and is known to have been worn across the area of Tunisia.

Artwork Details

Object Information

Overview

Provenance

Exhibition History

Title: Fibula
Date: first half 20th century
Geography: Attributed to Algeria
Medium: Silver; incised, niello
Dimensions: H. 8 in. (20.3 cm)
W. 2 1/2 in. (6.4 cm)
Classification: Jewelry
Credit Line: Bequest of Helen Winslow Durkee Mileham, 1954
Object Number: 55.111.44
Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

More Artwork

In the same medium

From the same time and place

Rabāb, Wood, brass, mother-of-pearl, gut, leather, bone, Algerian — Rabāb
Algerian
19th century

Fibula, Silver, imitation coral — Fibula
19th–20th century

Bracelet, One of a Pair, Silver, enamel, imitation coral — Bracelet, One of a Pair
19th–first half 20th century

Pair of Fibulae, Silver, enameled glass — Pair of Fibulae
19th–early 20th century

Bracelet, One of a Pair, Silver, enamel, stones — Bracelet, One of a Pair
20th century

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please contact us using the form below. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.

Send feedback

Content Notice

The Metropolitan Museum of Art presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world, and our online collection reflects ongoing work conducted over the course of our more than 150-year history. You may encounter objects or images that may be inappropriate for some viewers or information that may be outdated.