Armlet

first half 11th century
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 453
Pre-Islamic forms can be seen in bracelets such as this one, indicating traditionalism in the production of jewelry. At the back of each of the four hemispheres around the clasp there is a flat disk of gold decorated by pouncing it over a coin; the four stones originally on the front are now missing. The twisted decoration probably derives from Greek bracelets; Byzantine jewelry often incorporated coins.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Armlet
  • Date: first half 11th century
  • Geography: Found Iran, Gurgan
  • Medium: Gold; filigree and granulation
  • Dimensions: H. of clasp: 2 1/2 in. (6.4 cm)
    Max. Diam: 4 1/8 in. (10.5 cm)
  • Classification: Jewelry
  • Credit Line: Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1957
  • Object Number: 57.88a–c
  • Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

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