Greek Cypriot Gilded Bronze Bracelet w/ Lion Termini

Greek, Cypriot, ca. 450 to 400 BCE. A gilded bronze bracelet with lion's head terminals. The heavy layer of gold leaf is 94% gold, equivalent to 22K+. A beautiful piece of wearable art from ancient Greece, replete with fine artistry as well as symbolism. Lions are often the stars of ancient Greek stories, such as Herakles' defeat of the Nemean lion. In ancient Greece, lions symbolized both strength and royalty. This said, in addition to being depicted for their symbolic meaning, it is also probable that the creator of this piece saw lions in real life. Aristotle and Herodotus tell us that lions lived in the Balkans and Greece until around the 1st century BCE! Weight: 16.3 grams. Size: 2.3" W x 2" H (5.8 cm x 5.1 cm) from end to end; opening measures 2.125" W x 1.7" H (5.4 cm x 4.3 cm)

See a pair with similar style and motif at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Accession Number 74.51.3560).

Provenance: private Dere Family Collection, New York City, New York, USA, acquired in the 1980s - 2000s

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#151686
Condition Report: Lion terminals show slight age wear with minute indentations and cracks (green patina from bronze below the gilding), but are otherwise nicely preserved and show great details. There are a few fissures to the gilding on the bangle, but otherwise the bangle is excellent.