Roller

Although the exact function of this fragmentary bronze piece is not certain, it has been associated with openwork bronzes produced during the early second millennium B.C., and entered the Met’s collection with one such piece (1984.454.1a,b).

Openwork bronzes are incompletely understood objects produced during the early second millennium B.C. that include one or more openings in a variety of shapes. It seems likely that a cord, strap, or fabric would have been fed through these openings, and various proposals have identified the bronzes as horse trappings, belt buckles, furniture elements, and implements used in the production of textiles. Some examples include a roller like this piece and were probably designed to allow for the adjustment of straps, or movement of a textile through the opening.