Unknown Maker, Early Etruscan

In the Villanovan period, expensive possessions were deposited in the graves of members of the elite class. Belts like this were almost exclusively found in women’s graves. They first appear in Villanovan culture as status symbols for the upper classes, and were worn by Italic peoples for centuries after. The intricate details and delicate metalwork of this example exhibit a craftsmanship that only wealthy Villanovans could have afforded.