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Source Description
This golden bear, its paws grasping an open tube, probably served as a chain holder. The abstract pattern of openwork on the animal's sides is a distinctive feature of Sarmatian goldwork. Competing with the jewelry of Achaemenid Iran (at the southeastern edge of Sarmatian territory), which incorporated extensive inlays and enamel, the Sarmatians included the perforations and sockets that served as settings for such embellishments without actually adding the inlays. The resulting holes and punches reflect the anatomy and musculature of the bear.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
12891
label
Bear Chain-Holder
core
obj
dtoType
object
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
12891
sourceUrl
contentType
object
stage
normalized
title
Bear Chain-Holder
description
This golden bear, its paws grasping an open tube, probably served as a chain holder. The abstract pattern of openwork on the animal's sides is a distinctive feature of Sarmatian goldwork. Competing with the jewelry of Achaemenid Iran (at the southeastern edge of Sarmatian territory), which incorporated extensive inlays and enamel, the Sarmatians included the perforations and sockets that served as settings for such embellishments without actually adding the inlays. The resulting holes and punches reflect the anatomy and musculature of the bear.
provenance
Walters Art Museum, 1954, by purchase.
date
1st century CE
citationUrl
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
genreSpecific
jewelry
imageCount
1
pageCount
1
source
import
dimensionsRaw
H: 1 5/8 in. (4.1 cm)
Source extras
med
gold
creator_ids
16230
collection_ids
ANE
JWL
exhibition_ids
1954
69
2227
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
15adae2e7731cb22