Old Dominion University ODU Digital Commons Art Faculty Publications Art 1989 Ancient Etruscan Metalsmiths: The Afterlife Mirrors Life Dianne K. DeBeixedon Old Dominion University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/art_pubs Part of the Ancient History, Greek and Roman through Late Antiquity Commons, and the Metal and Jewelry Arts Commons Repository Citation DeBeixedon, Dianne K., "Ancient Etruscan Metalsmiths: The Afterlife Mirrors Life" (1989). Art Faculty Publications. 13. https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/art_pubs/13 Original Publication Citation DeBeixedon, D. K. (1989). Ancient Etruscan metalsmiths: The fta erlife mirrors life. Metalsmith, 9, 14-21. This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Art at ODU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Art Faculty Publications by an authorized administrator of ODU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. · Ancient Etruscan Metalsmiths The Afterlife Mirrors Life by Dianne K. deBeixedon Etruscan Bronze Mirror, 3rd century B.C. The back of this mirror is incised with two Dioscttri and two women, encircled by a wreath of leaves, 705/i' long. Collection: Merstens­ Schaffhausen. Photo: Co11rtesy The Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore, MD Looking down the long corridors of time, development, urbanization and rapid tracted and worked from 10,000 to 12,000 the ancient Etruscans emerge as a powerful rise to prosperity. tons of iron ore every year for 400 years! In people whose economic and social develop­ As sailors, warriors and merchants, the Etruscan port of Populonia, there are ment was founded on their metal industry. the Etruscans traded with Greece and its traces of more than 500 mining shafts, to­ Over the centuries, however, the Etruscans colonies in Sicily and Ionia, Northern Af­ gether with smelting furnaces, some dating were gradually absorbed into the Roman rica, Cypress and Spain. The Romans call ed back to 750 B.C. Empire and their language disappeared. them Tusci or Etrusci, and the Greeks When the wood used for furnace fuel Because written records are missing or called them Tyrrhenol, a name that survives was gradually depleted, the Etruscans irretrievably lost, Etruscan history is today for the Tyrrhenian Sea on the western transported the raw ore on barges across the shrouded in speculation and legend, and coast of Italy. Lost in time, the names for six-mile strait to the city of Populonia. only recently discoveri es in Italy have shed their prosperous cities are now known by There it cou ld be treated with more light on Etruscan culture. Etruria, Italy's their Roman names (Tarquinii, Caere, efficient furnaces and formed into moder­ first great civili za tion, rose and flowered Vulci, Veii and Clusium) or modern Italian ate-sized blocks for export. These blocks, from 750 to 100 B.C., reaching the peak of names (Arezzo, Cortona, Orvieto, Fiesole which looked like black sponges, were pur­ its power from 600 to 500 B.C. Roughly, and Voltera). chased and transported by merchants, in the boundaries of Etruria were the Arno Although the Etruscans were fear­ exchange for money, goods or gold. river to the North; the Tiber river to the some warriors and seafarers, their expansion Knowledge of the Etruscans' vast east and south; and the Tyrrhenian Sea to and power rested on their material and in­ wealth, material goods and li fes tyle is elu­ the west (corresponding to modern Tus­ dustrial wealth. They mined and processed sive, but, fortunately, they placed their ac­ cany). With their military prowess, the copper, lead, iron and finished metal prod­ cumulated wealth of jewelry, household Etruscans spread outward from central ucts for export. Ci ties such as Populonia goods and weapons into their tombs for use Italy. By 600 B.C., they dominated the were known for their iron industry, Tar­ in Eternity. Most of what we know about western shore from Pisa to Rome and quinii for the production of bronze utensils. the civi li zation has been learned from such crossed the Tiber River, controlling much The source of economic strength lay in paintings and objects. The acres of cemeter­ of the present province of Campania. As their control of the mineral resources from ies around Italy's modern cities have helped they moved further south near Naples, they the Tolfa Hills (west of Lake Bracciano), us reconstruct what the Etruscans were like met resistance from the residents of the northward to the Cottins Metallifere (the in life. They were not only a culture of war­ Greek colony Cumae and were pushed metal-bearing mountain chain) of Tuscany, riors, traders and builders, but an exuber­ back. They co ntinued their northward where ore deposits of copper, lead, iron and ant, sens ual people with a passion for the thrust crossing the Apennines ridge, tin were abundant. good life. colonizing the fertile Po Valley. Their The cities that became wealthy from Res idences for the dead have sur­ movement north was thwarted only due to the production of bronze produced some of vived much more frequently then those of pugnacious Venetian tribes. the finest metalsmiths on the Italian penin­ the living, and many tombs, constructed to Etruscan civilization appeared, sula, who created bronze weapons, candela­ last for centuri es, have remained intact and almost suddenly (in comparison to the slow bra, household utensils, figurines and caul­ undisturbed. Beli eving that the dead pace of ancient history). The land they drons. Iron, however, eclipsed bronze as a wanted the same comforts as the living, the controlled offered plentiful game as a bountiful resource. A seemingly inexhaust­ Etruscans placed objects of earthly life in summer and winter pasture for migrating ible supply of ore came primarily from the the tombs. Thus, the contents of the tombs flocks. And as they cleared forests and Island of Elba, off the wes tern coast of Italy. provide a relatively accurate portrayal of drai ned flood lands and marshes, the Ancient writers describe the multitude of Etruscan life. The earliest tombs were cov­ fertility of their land became second to furnaces that spewed clouds of heavy smoke ered mounds of earth, and, over a period of none, producing some of the highest crop into the Mediterranean heavens. Experts 200 years, the structures evolved into short, yields in antiquity. But it was metallurgical estimate from the remaining slag heaps on squat houses where the dead were placed in wealth that determined Etruria's Elba and the coast that the Etruscans ex- urns or sarcophagi. Metalsmith Fall 1989 15 Left Below left Bronze Etruscan Lamp, 4th century B.C. Bronze Etruscan Lamp, 4th century B.C. Designed to be smpended from the ceiling the Collection: Mtteso dell'Accameia Etrnsca, elaborate decoration appears on the ttnderside of Cortona, Italy. the lamp, 24" in diameter. Collection: Mmeo Photo: Courtesy Frances Van Kettren dell'Accademia Etrmca, Cortona, Italy. Photo: Cottrtesy Soprintendenza Alie Anitchita d'Etmria, Firenze The Etruscans believed that one's stylized elegance. a high degree of skill and expertise. Where spirit was in danger of a horrible transfor­ Another important type of bronze did this technical virtuosity come from so mation after death, unless a place for the object found in the burial sites is the in­ suddenly? It is difficult ro believe that such bodily remains was provided. To insure cense burner. The most prevalent design complex gold jewelry was produced when that the spirit retained a human form as it resembles a cable candelabra with a three­ few, if any, Etruscan gold mines existed. passed beyond the grave, porters and met­ legged base of human figures supporting a One possible explanation mig ht be that in alsmiths were commissioned to produce central shaft. The decorative dancing and trading with the Greeks and Phoenicians, anthropomorphic urns. The urns vary in mythological figures symbolize the joys and gold work passed into Etruria direccly or form and size bur most are decorated with festivities of li fe . Many incense burners indirectly in exchange for Etruscan iron. In human characteristics, some simple and have repea ted motifs, such as lions or plant all likelihood, the refined gold jewelry chat abstract and ochers realistic and elaborate. forms , that were made in molds and then appears in the Etruscan combs was de ­ Gold jewelry, silver, chariots, votive chased and incised with details. signed by Greek or Phoenician craftsman to figures and elegant household furnishings Also used in Etruscan homes were satisfy the Etruscan market and artistic filled the tombs of the Etruscan dead. candelabra and oil lamps, the latter a Greek taste. Metal objects made of bronze had a sacred influence. Some floor candelabra are call, Of all the individual objects found in character and ritualistic purpose. The chari­ standing almost four-feet hig h, with a the Etruscan tombs, the bronze hand mir­ ots and wagons, for example, used for pa­ three-legged base supporting a vertical rors may tell us the most about che culture. rades and funerals, were covered with open shaft that terminates in horizontal prongs The mirrors were engraved with illustra­ or pierced ornaments of bronze and iron. to pierce the candles and hold chem up­ tions of Greek myths or scenes of daily life. They may also have been decorated with right. Again, cast or chased joyful dancing The engraved characters were labeled with figurative panels or decorative motifs figures, lions or plant forms usually deco­ names or identified by costume and sym­ formed by repousse. rated the central shaft. Burning an oil lamp bolic attributes, giving scholars one of the Councless small bronze votive figures required constant adjustment of the thick first clues to the Etruscan language and used for religious dedication also were fiber wick throug h the lamp nozzles.