Six Roman to Byzantine Bronze Bracelets

拍品描述

Mediterranean, Roman to Byzantine Empire, ca. 100–600 CE. A group of six hand-formed bracelets, each a slender hoop of leaded bronze drawn from a single rod and bent into a near-circle. Most are penannular, their tapered terminals stopping just short of meeting so the band could be sprung open across the wrist; others close in a lapped or abutting join. Sections vary from round to slightly flattened or faceted, and the shafts carry gentle undulations and irregular ovals from long wear and burial compression. Surfaces have oxidized to mottled green and brown cuprite, with earthen deposits still lodged in the crevices. Plain personal ornaments of this kind were the everyday jewelry of the Roman and early Byzantine provinces, worn singly or stacked, and produced in enormous quantity by provincial workshops for both women and children. Size of largest: 2.27" H x 2.77" W x 0.2" D (5.8 cm H x 7.0 cm W x 0.5 cm D). Leaded bronze was the workhorse alloy of Roman provincial metalworking. Adding lead to the copper-tin mix lowered the melting point and improved flow in the mold, which mattered less for a simple drawn rod than for cast work, but the alloy was cheap and abundant, and scrap-recycling workshops turned it out by the ton. The penannular form endured for centuries with almost no change: an open hoop needs no clasp, no hinge, and no fitting to a particular wrist, which is precisely why it survives from Britain to Syria across the Roman Imperial and early Byzantine horizons. Dating a plain example on typology alone is notoriously difficult, and grouped lots such as this one often span several hundred years. Please note that these bracelets contain about 5 to 21% lead and are not recommended for wear. SHIPPING: We coordinate worldwide shipping in-house through specialist international forwarders experienced with fine art and antiquities customs manifests. International buyers must confirm, prior to bidding, that their country's customs authority will accept the item. All duties, taxes, clearance fees, and any costs arising from customs delays, seizures, re-export, returns, or loss in transit are the buyer's sole responsibility. Artemis assumes no liability for items refused entry, detained, or lost after export. We cannot ship ancient items to their country of origin (Egyptian to Egypt, Greek to Greece, etc.).For those not using LiveAuctioneers' Live Ship program, Artemis Fine Arts offers expert in-house packing and worldwide shipping. With over 20 years of experience, our team provides careful, reliable, and affordable service. For a quick quote on this lot, please contact support@artemisfinearts.com prior to the auction, or call 720-890-7700. PAYMENT EXCEPTION: For clients not previously established with Artemis, payment for all gold, precious metal, and gemstone lots must be made by bank wire transfer or certified bank check/money order, without exception. Item #204594

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