Central Europe, Danube River Basin, Hallstatt culture, ca. 1000 to 700 BCE. A lovely bronze hair ring with a double spiral design formed from a single elongated strip. Each spiral is comprised of six rotations wound tightly against one another and stemming from a triple-loop hair ring on the verso. An ornament like this example would have been worn by members of the elite class - either warriors, rulers, or high-caste women. The design of these items was remarkably persistent, and the style dates back to the 13th century BCE. They have been found all over Southern Europe - mostly in the Balkans and south of the Danube and as far afield as Poland, Switzerland, and the western Mediterranean. They were often buried with their owners. Covered in lustrous layers of blue-green patina, this is a beautiful example of high-quality fashion in ancient times! Display stand for photography purposes only. Size: 2.7" L x 1.25" W (6.9 cm x 3.2 cm).
For a similar example, please see "Beloved by Time: Four Millennia of Ancient Art." Fortuna Fine Arts, Ltd., New York, 2000, p. 41, fig. 72.
Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection
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#133338
Condition
Surface wear commensurate with age, slight bending to spirals and overall form, with some loosening and separation to lateral spirals and hair ring, otherwise intact and very good. Light earthen deposits and nice blue-green patina throughout.