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Image

RISDM 46-563.tif
RISDM 46-563.tif
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  • RISDM 46-563.tif
  • RISDM 46-563.tif

Unknown Maker

Roundel for a shield or breast plate

Description

Maker

Unknown Maker

Title

Roundel for a shield or breast plate

Year

early 600s BCE-late 500s BCE

Medium

  • bronze

Materials/Techniques

Techniques

  • bronze

Materials

bronze

Geography

Villanovan

Dimensions

Diameter: 22.9 cm (9 inches)

Credit / Object Number

Credit

Gift of Mr. Walter C. Baker

Object Number

46.563

Type

  • Metalwork

Projects & Publications

Publications

Pub_ID 1121 Classical Bronzes v_01.jpg
  • Books

Classical Bronzes

Read Online ›

Exhibition History

Exhibition History

Weiss Ancient Art Gallery
Sep 22, 2010
Ancient Greek and Roman Galleries
Sep 22, 2010

Label copy

The Villanovans are often characterized as warrior-farmers. Using the various mines and metal ores at their disposal, they became experts in metalworking, equipping themselves with bronze weapons. A disc like this one would have been used as armor. It was either suspended in front of the warrior’s heart (thus the term kardiophylakes, or “heart protectors”) or inserted into a wooden shield that would be carried. These discs often included depictions of animals. The deer represented here might illustrate a local pride in indigenous fauna. The design of this disc, with its concentric circles and abstract patterns, was influenced by Greek Geometric style.

Use & Feedback

Image use

The images on this website can enable discovery and collaboration and support new scholarship, and we encourage their use.

This object is in the Public Domain and available under a CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication

Tombstone

Unknown Maker
Roundel for a shield or breast plate, early 600s BCE-late 500s BCE
Bronze
Diameter: 22.9 cm (9 inches)
Gift of Mr. Walter C. Baker 46.563

To request new photography, please send an email to imagerequest@risd.edu and include your name and the object's accession number.

Feedback

We view our online collection as a living documents, and our records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you have additional information or have spotted an error, please send feedback to curatorial@risd.edu.

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