Bracelet or Anklet Fragment

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Artist
Name	Unknown
Basic Info
Period	Iron Age
Created in	Ancient & Byzantine World, Europe
Century	4th-3rd century BCE
Culture	Celtic
Dimensions	9 cm (3 9/16 in.)
Harvard Museum
Department	Department of Ancient and Byzantine Art & Numismatics
Division	Asian and Mediterranean Art
Contact	am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu

Context

This curved bracelet or anklet fragment is broken on each end (1). The fragment, which preserves approximately half the original circumference, consists of four intact beads and one partial bead. The beads are hollow, hemispherical domes, flat on the underside. Black material is preserved in the interior of the partial bead.
 
Intact examples of bracelets are made of two segments hinged together, and they are often found in pairs in graves (2).
 
NOTES:
 
1. Compare J. Bouzek, “The Celtic Mercenary Reconsidered,” in Celtic Art in Europe: Making Connections, eds. C. Gosden, S. Crawford, and K. Ulmschneider (Oxford, 2014) 223-33, esp. 225-27, fig. 26.6 (from Isthmia and Prague Bubenec); and D. Vitali, “The Celts in Italy,” in The Celts, eds. S. Moscati, et al., exh. cat., Palazzo Grassi, Venice (London, 1991) 220-35, esp. 223 and 233 (from Saliceta San Giuliano, Modena).  
 
2. Vitali 1991 (supra 1) 223-24.
 
Lisa M. Anderson

TechnicalDetails

Technical Observations

The patina consists of various greens and browns on an uneven surface. The bracelet is missing approximately half of its original hoop, and the ends are damaged and deformed. Cracks are present and are indicative of the brittle nature of the metal.
 
The bracelet was probably made by lost-wax casting. A black clay-like core material remains in the interior. Longitudinal cracks on the interior surface may indicate seams in the metal or even in the wax model before casting, but it is difficult to be sure of this due to the condition of the bracelet.
 
Carol Snow (submitted 2002)

Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Gift of Dr. Harris Kennedy, Class of 1894