Gold Roman Bracelet

$6,500.00

This heavy Roman gold bracelet consisting of a tapering rod with each of the ends overlapping one another to end in twisted terminals. This is characteristic of Type I Roman bracelets, with this type of overlap twist bracelet’s first appearing in the later Hellenistic period and continued being worn throughout the Roman period, however due to the solidarity and the proportions of this piece, it points to a earlier roman date most likely between the 1st and 2nd century A.D. Many of these representations indicate that they were typically worn with the overlapped part on the upper side of the wrist. Egyptian funerary depictions often show them worn in pairs, with up to three on each wrist. Cf. S. Walker & M. Bierbier, Ancient Faces, Mummy Portraits from Ancient Egypt, London, 1997, pp 175-6, no 218, as well as Cf. Jack. Jewellery of the Ancient World / Jack Ogden. New York: Rizzoli, 1982. Print

This heavy Roman gold bracelet consisting of a tapering rod with each of the ends overlapping one another to end in twisted terminals. This is characteristic of Type I Roman bracelets, with this type of overlap twist bracelet’s first appearing in the later Hellenistic period and continued being worn throughout the Roman period, however due to the solidarity and the proportions of this piece, it points to a earlier roman date most likely between the 1st and 2nd century A.D. Many of these representations indicate that they were typically worn with the overlapped part on the upper side of the wrist. Egyptian funerary depictions often show them worn in pairs, with up to three on each wrist. Cf. S. Walker & M. Bierbier, Ancient Faces, Mummy Portraits from Ancient Egypt, London, 1997, pp 175-6, no 218, as well as Cf. Jack. Jewellery of the Ancient World / Jack Ogden. New York: Rizzoli, 1982. Print

Weight: 29.65 Grams

Width 2 1/2 inches

Maximum Diameter of 6.2 cm


Provenance:
Freemen’s and Hindman Auctions: Sale 1343 - Antiquities and Ancient Art: Lot 222, Private Illinois Collector, Fortuna Fine Arts, New York, prior to 1990.

Published:
J. Ogden, A Golden Past: Jewelry from the Ancient World (Catalogue), 1990, p. 36, no. 171.

For type see: Pg 153 Ogden, Jack. Jewellery of the Ancient World / Jack Ogden. New York: Rizzoli, 1982. Print.

Similar Pieces:

This similar piece sold in 2001: https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-2034921?ldp_breadcrumb=back

This similar piece sold in 2003: https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-4170779

This similar piece sold in 2010: https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-5385611

This similar piece sold in 2012: https://www.bonhams.com/auction/20668/lot/226/a-roman-gold-bracelet/

Also see:

Similar piece in Berlin, pl. 62C in Higgins, Greek and Roman Jewellery.

Similar Piece in Pg 153 Ogden, Jack. Jewellery of the Ancient World / Jack Ogden. New York: Rizzoli, 1982. Print