A Pair of Arm Spirals

Culture: Middle Europe
Period: 13th century B.C.
Material: Bronze
Dimensions: 15.3 cm high and 15.9 cm high respectively
Price: Sold
Ref: 5139
Provenance: Belgian private collection 1970, thence on the art market with Dominique Thirion, Brussels, Belgium.
Condition: Intact
Description: A pair of decorated arm spirals made of round bronze wire. One end of the wire ends in a protruding hoop with a hook, the other ends in a large, finely curled spiral with eight coils and a central button. This so-called tutulus is worked out separately and fixed in the spiral with a cross brace. The spirals as well as the bronze wire up to the beginning of the hoop are decorated with slash patterns and parallel lines. Bronze jewelry like the present one was worn on the upper arm and also served as a defensive weapon.