Kunst und Antiquitäten - Antiken, Asiatika und Russische Kunst

128 | Die Deutung der völkerwanderungszeitlichen Brakteaten bleibt trotz intensiver Forschungen noch in vielerlei Hinsicht rätselhaft, u.a. auf­ grund fehlender schriftlicher Quellen aus dieser Zeit. Der gesamte Ha­ bitus der Figur wirkt jedoch wie ein Läufer, der regelrecht zum „Sprint” angesetzt hat und eine Handfläche vor den einen Ruf ausstoßenden Mund hält. Eine verbindliche Deutung ist jedoch nicht ohne Weiteres möglich. Die Runeninschrift ist in dieser Form auch von anderen, gleichzeitigen Goldbrakteaten bekannt. Der Brakteat gehört eindeutig zum seltener vorkommenden Typ B, passt jedoch nicht exakt zu einer der bisher benannten bzw. bekannten Formularfamilien der B-Brak­ teaten. Es sind jedoch klare Bezüge zu Details der Formularfamilien B2, B3 und B4 vorhanden. Eine allzu schematische Gliederung der völkerwanderungszeitlichen Goldbrakteaten bereitet ohnehin Schwie­ rigkeiten. Neben zahlreichen „assoziierten Stücken” und „Bastard­ formen” zu den bisher benannten Formularfamilien der Brakteatenty­ penA, B, C, Dund F können immer wieder neue Varianten auftauchen. Ausgesprochen attraktives Exemplar eines germanischen Goldbrak­ teaten der Völkerwanderungszeit, zumal von einem seltenen Typ im Gegensatz zu den ungleich häufiger vorkommenden C-Brakteaten. Durchmesser ohne Öse 4,3 mm, mit Öse 4,7 cm. Provenienz: Süddeutsche Privatsammlung, übernommen aus der Sammlung des Vaters. A North Germanic jewellery bracteate (B-bracteate) of gold, late 5th - early 6th century A.D. Migration-period bracteate of the B type. In the centre a “running” figure from the side. The details are chased into the gold plate from behind with amodel. One leg facing forward with the lower leg bent backwards. In the space between the legs a sequence of four runes: “l,a,th,u”. “Lathu” prob- ably means “invitation” in the sense of “evocation”. The other leg stretched backwards and the lower leg bent upwards. The upper body leans forward. One arm pointing upwards, with the forearm bent down- wards, the thumb clearly splayed out. The other arm slightly bent down- wards with the forearm pointing upwards, the thumb of the hand held in front of the mouth again spread. The mouth open, vertical lines under the chin, probably representing a beard. Nose and eye clearly marked. Hair flowing backwards in a slight curve on the head. Three markings in the field: under the back hand three dots, between the front upper arm and thigh a circular eye, in front of the front elbow and knee a zigzag line with a dot at the upper end (strongly stylised animal?). This image in the centre field surrounded by a double line with an inner circle of pearls, also chased from behind. This is followed by a wreath of punched triangles with a raised line and raised dot in the centre within a depression. This decoration struck from above with a punch. The rim bordered by a sol- dered notched wire. A horizontally soldered cylindrical eyelet with a pro- file at the top: a wide bead on the outside and two narrow beads in the centre. The notched wire slightly worn on the sides and sharper in profile immediately in front of the eyelet. The edges of the eyelet mouths show slight signs of wear on both sides at the top. The left edge of the eyelet somewhat dented, two small cracks on the edge of the central beads on the back of the eyelet. Otherwise impeccable, excellent condition with only minimal waving of the bracteate, which is hardly noticeable visually when viewed from above. Despite intensive research, the interpretation of the bracteates from the Migration Period remains puzzling in many respects, partly due to the lack of written sources from this period. However, the overall habitus of the figure looks like a runner who has literally started to “sprint” and holds one palm in front of his mouth, which emits a shout. An authorita- tive interpretation, however, is not readily possible. The runic inscription is also known in this form from other gold bracteates of the same period. The bracteate clearly belongs to the rarer B-type, but does not fit exactly into one of the previously named or known form families of B-bracteates. However, there are clear references to details of the B2, B3 and B4 form families. A too schematic classification of the gold bracteates of the Mi- gration Period is difficult anyway. Besides numerous “associated pieces” and “bastard forms” to the previously named form families of the bracte- ate types A, B, C, Dand F, new variants can always appear. A very attrac- tive example of a Germanic gold bracteate of the Migration Period, espe- cially of a rare type in contrast to the much more common C-bracteates. Diameter without eyelet 4.3 mm, with eyelet 4.7 cm. P rovenance : South German private collection, taken over from the collection of the father. 296545 I - € 38.000