WESTERN ASIATIC BRONZE AGE HEAVY BRACELET

C. 1000 BC. Western Asiatic. An attractive heavy bronze bracelet with a D-shaped section and confronted terminals. The bracelet's band is decorated with patches of engrave net decorations, while the terminals each bear four deeply incised dot-in-circle motifs. In bronze age societies, arm rings and bracelets were not just decorative, but also served to mark bonds of loyalty between a lord and his followers in a culture where honour was a matter of life and death. Such items were also. given to young men to mark their coming of age and bracelets of precious metals were also used as currency in a time before the widespread availability of coinage. Excellent condition; beautiful patina. Provenance: From an old British collection formed in the 1990s, formerly acquired in the UK and European Art Market.; Size: L:70mm / W:84mm ; 165g