A Bronze Age gold and carnelian toggle pin

A Bronze Age gold and carnelian toggle pin
Possibly Cyprus, circa 1400-1300 B.C.
The spherical carnelian bead vertically fluted and affixed to the pin with a round disc, the body of the pin decorated in gold with alternating plain ring segments and fluted segments, tapering to a point, an attachment loop on one side, 10.5cm long

Provenance:
Acquired by the current owner from Sumer Gallery, New York, 22 November 1986.

This elegant toggle pin was used to secure and adorn draped clothing. The fluted bead at the top of the pin is shaped to resemble a poppy seed head, and an example from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York (acc. no. 1989.281.14) rattles when shaken. See also an example solely in gold from the Cleveland Museum of Art, acc. no. 1947.36. Further examples exist in the British Museum, London, specifically acc. nos. 1897,0401.348 and 1897,0401.102 which have similar attachment loops.