Near Eastern-Western Asiatic Gold Disc

£ 395.00

A finely rendered Near Eastern Western Asiatic disc, hammered from a thin layer of gold. The piece displays a delicate floral decoration, comprising details incised and rendered in repousse technique.  The disc is cantered by a cabochon sky blue hard stone, possibly turquoise. Twisted wires, creating a braid-like motif, run around the outer edge of the disc. The piece features two pierced hols for attachment, one of which still holds an original gold hoop. This gold disc would have been part of elaborate necklaces, bracelets or sewed to garments and robes.

Date: 1st Millennium - 4th century BC
Condition: Extremely fine, suitable for modern wear.

SOLD

Many grand civilizations inhabited the area of Western Asia in Antiquity, and their wealth and prosperity is witnessed by the very sophisticated precious metal crafting of jewellery. Gold would have been hammered down to a thin layer and manipulated into different shapes. Gold and silver jewellery would have featured gold granules, glass and semi-precious stone inlays and detailed engravings. Similar gold discs have been recovered from north-west Iran, precisely from the archaeological site of Hasanlu, an important centre in antiquity for the development of commerce and artistic production (beginning of 1st millennium BC). The practice of wearing such gold rosettes as piece of jewellery dates back to the Old Babylonian Period, and similar examples have been recovered in ancient Cyprus and Greece.

Weight 1.4 g
Dimensions L 2.7 x W 2.4 cm
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Metal

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Region

Reference: For a similar item, The Metropolitan Museum, item 61.100.69.

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