Unknown Maker, Etruscan

As a result of the abundance of metals in their region of Italy, the Etruscans became master bronzesmiths whose skills were well-known throughout the Mediterranean world. This intricate buckle is a wonderful example of Etruscan bronze workmanship. The three hooks, designed to slide through the holes and lock the buckle into place, are fashioned into the heads of serpents, a common motif in the Orientalizing period, when the fashions of the Near East were popular in Etruria.