A GOLD ISLAMIC BRACELET, 11TH-12TH CENTURY

A gold bracelet decorated with engraved birds (eagles?) alternating with stylized crosses with quartered with fleur de lys motifs. The motifs are engraved in roundels which alternate between the designs. There are traces of niello in the engraved recesses and this technique was widely used in the eastern Mediterranean at this time, the origins of which go back to the Romans. The clasp or closing mechanism is a commonly used triple lug mechanism which then closes with an inserted pin. The objects using this style are divided between Seljuks, Byzantines, Armenians within the area of Anatolia from where the most of these objects originate.
Diameter: 6 cm.
Weight:16 gr.

PROVENANCE
Private collection, Belgium