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  • GEOMETRIC SOLID GOLD CELTIC BRACELET AT CHRISTIE’S

    A CELTIC SOLID GOLD BRACELET IRON AGE, CIRCA 1000 B.C. courtesy Christie's Images Ltd., 2013.  (Click on image to enlarge).

    A CELTIC SOLID GOLD BRACELET IRON AGE, CIRCA 1000 B.C. courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd., 2013. (Click on image to enlarge). UPDATE: IT MADE £517,875.

    This exquisite solid gold Celtic bracelet originally discovered in Portugal comes up at Christie’s sale of antiquities in South Kensington on May 2.  Measuring three and a quarter inches in diameter the heavy gold bracelet made about 3,000 years ago is believed to be on the only one of its type still in private hands. It weighs 599.5 grams and is on the market for the first time.  The estimate is £40,000-60,000.

    The intricate geometic pattern demonstrates the technological advances of the Iron Age.  The new use of iron around 1,000 B.C. brought two huge benefits to goldsmiths, furnaces capable of melting large masses of gold and tools made from iron that allowed more ambitious and bold designs.  A number of museum quality pieces of Celtic craft were discovered in Portugal during the mid 20th century.

    Laetitia Delaloye of  Christie’s said; “The gold bracelet from the Iron Age is a special piece and it is extremely rare for us to see such a detailed example of early Iron Age craftsmanship on the market.” The auction features work that embrace the cultures of Egypt, Greece, Rome and the Near East.

    UPDATE: IT made £517,875 in an auction which brought in £4,241,775 and was sold 94% by value and 88% by lot.

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