Ancient Near East, Achaemenid Persian Empire, ca. 500 to 330 BCE. A striking pair of circular bracelets formed from exceptionally high-grade (99.5%) silver with thick bands and block-form terminals. Each terminal depicts a snake head with intricately-incised details including semicircular eyes, a compressed snout, dozens of striations indicative of scales, and rows of miniscule teeth lining the gaping mouth. The serpentine termini touch only on the snouts and, along with the fine patina, give the accessories a wondrous elegant appearance. Size of each (both are relatively similar): 2.875" W x 2.5" H (7.3 cm x 6.4 cm); quality of silver: 99.5%; total weight: 259.4 grams.
Despite the Achaemenid Empire's obsession with gold and silver, their proficiency in crafting high-quality bronze items is ultimately what lead to their prominence in antiquity. Their healthy economy and widely-established network of roads enabled the conduct of commerce and trade with nations both near and far, thus allowing for the acquisition of high-quality materials. Bronze was used to create countless types of finer items including jewelry, furniture attachments, statues, and weaponry at prices far more affordable than equivalent examples opulently formed from silver and gold.
The Achaemenid Persian Empire, founded by Cyrus the Great in 550 BCE (including Iran, Mesopotamia, Syria, Egypt, Asia Minor, Central Asia, Caucasus, Thrace and some parts of India) is generally regarded as one of the greatest civilizations of the ancient world. Its capital, Pasargadae, was Cyrus the Great's final resting place and has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-Neil Phillips collection, New York, New York, USA, acquired in the 1980s
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#144448
Condition
Wearable as shown. Very slight bending to overall forms, with light softening to finer incised details, otherwise intact and excellent. Light earthen deposits as well as great patina throughout.