Antique jewelry glossary

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Leech fibula

A type of fibula of which the bow is in the form of a hemicylinder that is slightly curved to resemble a leech (or boat). Examples were made of gold during the 7th century BC. The term has also been applied to a fibula having an undecorated, asymmetrical, arched bow (hollow or solid) that is thicker at the top; these have also been called a 'boat fibula' or a 'kite fibula'.

From: An Illustrated Dictionary of Jewelry, autor: Harold Newman, publishers: Thames and Hudson