Iron Age Celtic Bronze Implement
£ 150.00
An excellent Celtic bronze implement from the Iron Age, identified as a cosmetic nail-cleaner. The implement is comprised of a short, flattened blade attached to a finely decorated handle. The handle features a slightly flared stem underneath a conical bulb-shaped mid-section, surmounted by a split discoid, and topped with an ellipsoid finial. The piece is decorated with fine incisions, including spiralled ring and dot motifs interspersed with B or double-ring motifs around the bottom of the mid-section. The finial is finished with horizontal linear incisions culminating at a small round stone at one side. The implement is accompanied by a custom-made stand, from which it can be removed.
Measurements below include implement and stand. Implement alone measures 4.1cm high and 1.2cm wide.
Date: Circa 800 BC- 43 AD
Provenance: From the private collection of J.L, Surrey, 2000s, UK. Found in East Anglia, UK; before 2000.
Condition: Very fine condition. Some wear as consistent with age. Can be removed from the stand.
SOLD
The Iron Age saw the introduction of iron working techniques into Britain from southern Europe. This revolutionised many aspects of daily life on account of the greater strength of iron in comparison to bronze. Bronze was still a valued material, due to its capacity for being cast into different shapes including into decorative works. It could therefore be used to create tools which needed finer detailing, and was a valued material in upper-class society. Archaeologists have discovered items from this period in ‘hoards’ or buried religious offerings and grave goods. These individualised graves were filled with precious items, ranging from jewellery to everyday items, such as this bronze implement.
To discover more about Celtic culture, please visit our relevant blog post: Bronze Age Britain
