Archaeological Museum of Bologna

The so-called “tintinnabula” take their name from the belief that these trapezoidal pendants were sorts of small gongs typical of the area of Bologna, seeing as they were often discovered with a mallet.

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They were actually ceremonial pendants that must have been a particular sign of prestige for those women who displayed them, given the precious material of which they are made and their form, probably linked to the shape of the axe. In fact, they can only be discovered in particularly sumptuous females’ sepulchres, which can be dated back to the period between the second half of the 8^th century and the 7^th century B.C.
A pronounced countersink characterises the tintinnabula manufactured during the Orientalising period, whereas the body of some exemplars, such as this one, particularly precious, is decorated in fretwork with amber inserts.

Provenance: Bologna, Necropolis of the Military Arsenal
Datation: 7th century B.C.
Material: Bronze and amber
Dimensions: h. 16.5 cm
Inventory #: 25375