- Title
- Bracelet
- Date Made
- 11th-12th century
- Medium
- Silver, fabricated from sheet and round wire, decorated with bitumen-highlighted incising
- Dimensions
- Diameter: 2 1/4 in. (5.71 cm)
- Accession Number
- M.2002.1.541
- Collecting Area
- Art of the Middle East: Islamic
- Curatorial Notes
Much of what is known about personal adornment in the medieval Islamic world is based on jewelry, since textiles deteriorate quickly and few complete garments have survived. While jewelry is also rare, as it was frequently melted down, extant pieces like this delicate silver bracelet decorated with a harpy provide an idea of the types of fashions available in eleventh- to twelfth-century Iran. The human-headed bird known from classical mythology as a harpy was a common motif in Classical and Sasanian Iranian art that continued into the Islamic period. In Muslim scientific and literary manuscripts, the mythical creature is often associated with exotic lands and considered auspicious. As decoration for this child-size bracelet, it likely served as a symbol of protection.
2024
