Gold armlet decorated with Steppe culture narrative Northwest China, 1st century BC | 中國西北部 公元前一世紀 瑞獸紋金手鐲或臂鐲

Property from an Asian private collection

Gold armlet decorated with Steppe culture narrative

Northwest China, 1st century BC

亞洲私人收藏

中國西北部 公元前一世紀 瑞獸紋金手鐲或臂鐲 

In the Eurasian Steppe, the availability of raw materials fostered a rich material culture, and facilitated a highly skilled craft culture, especially in gold. During the first century BC, a decorative 'animal style' became the most popular form of jewelry and ornamentation, as seen on this armlet. This style arose from the primary significance of hunting and herding in the history of Northern Asia.

These traditional economies created ideologies centred around animals and nature, and it is here ancient cult beliefs like 'The Tree of Life' was originally seeded. Due to the importance of hunting and herding, the tree of life found in art was often a symbolic one, represented by the antlers of a deer, ram, or goat. Thus, upon the armlet, the horns of a symbolic caprid appear at either end of the band, and animals being chased by prey run towards the horns seeking refuge. This ancient ideology around animals and nature is deeply interlinked by ideas of regeneration and fertility. Thus, such a narrative taking place within this cyclical-shape, literally, presents the cycle of life.

h. 4 cm, d. 8.5 cm; 135.9 grams