The Bergamo Treasure is a large
Lombardic and Ostrogothic hoard found near the city of
Bergamo in northern
Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...
in the nineteenth century. It was mostly acquired by the
British Museum
The British Museum is a public museum dedicated to human history, art and culture located in the Bloomsbury area of London. Its permanent collection of eight million works is among the largest and most comprehensive in existence. It docum ...
in 1897.
British Museum Collection
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Discovery
The hoard was supposedly unearthed in three different graves near Bergamo in the province of Lombardy, Italy. From the 6th century AD, Bergamo was the seat of one of the most important Lombard duchies of northern Italy. Dating from this era, the prestigious items from the grave groups suggest they belonged to important figures at the Lombardic court. After its discovery, most of the treasure was purchased by the British Museum in 1897.
Description
The Bergamo Treasure is largely composed of ecclesiastical and secular jewellery that reflect the contemporary tastes of Lombardic and Ostrogothic
The Ostrogoths ( la, Ostrogothi, Austrogothi) were a Roman-era Germanic people. In the 5th century, they followed the Visigoths in creating one of the two great Gothic kingdoms within the Roman Empire, based upon the large Gothic populations who ...
cultures. It includes two gold appliqué
Appliqué is ornamental needlework in which pieces or patches of fabric in different shapes and patterns are sewn or stuck onto a larger piece to form a picture or pattern. It is commonly used as decoration, especially on garments. The technique ...
crosses and seven rectangular gold mounts that were probably attached to an item of clothing, various glass beads and bronze buckle
The buckle or clasp is a device used for fastening two loose ends, with one end attached to it and the other held by a catch in a secure but adjustable manner. Often taken for granted, the invention of the buckle was indispensable in securing tw ...
s, an agate pendant and several finger-rings and ear-rings. One of the finger rings is incised with the bust of a noble lady wearing a diadem
A diadem is a type of crown, specifically an ornamental headband worn by monarchs and others as a badge of royalty.
Overview
The word derives from the Greek διάδημα ''diádēma'', "band" or "fillet", from διαδέω ''diadéō'', " ...
and a pair of pendant earrings, inscribed either side with the lettering 'GUMED/RUTAVE'.
Gallery
Image:Arte longobarda, cinque anelli d'oro, da bergamo VII sec..JPG, Image of the gold finger ring with the bust of the lady.
See also
* Artres Treasure
*Domagnano Treasure
The Domagnano Treasure is an important Ostrogothic hoard found at Domagnano, Republic of San Marino in the late nineteenth century. The treasure is now divided among various institutions, including the Louvre Abu Dhabi, although the bulk of the ho ...
* Sutri Treasure
*Belluno Treasure
The Belluno Treasure is an important Lombardic hoard found at Belluno, Italy in the nineteenth century that has been part of the British Museum's collection since 1897.
Discovery
The hoard was apparently found in a grave near the town of Bellun ...
References
{{Reflist, 2
Further reading
*S. Marzinzik, Masterpieces: Early Medieval Art (London, British Museum Press, 2013)
*N. Christie, The Lombards (Oxford, Blackwell, 1995)
*R. SMITH, A Guide to the Anglo-Saxon and Foreign Teutonic Antiquities in the Department of British and Mediaeval Antiquities. London, p. 155, British Museum Press, 1923
*S Fuchs, Die Langobardischen Goldblattkreuze aus der Zone südwärts der Alpen, Archäologisches Institut des Deutschen Reiches Abteilung Rom. Berlin, p. 78, 1938
*O. VON HESSEN, Langobardische Goldblattkreuze aus Italien, in W. Hübener (ed) Die Goldblattkreuze des frühen Mittelalters, Veröffentlichung des Alemannischen Instituts Freiburg, 1975
Medieval European objects in the British Museum
Medieval European metalwork objects
Treasure troves of Italy
Italy–United Kingdom relations