Unknown Maker, Celtic

This rare and perfectly preserved gold torque of fine and tightly twisted circular forms hails from the Bishopsland Phase of the European Bronze Age (1350-1000 BCE). It may have been a neck ornament, as at this time objects made of gold were usually fashioned for personal ornament or ritual use. This torque shows no signs of wear, indicating that it was likely used as ceremonial jewelry, possibly for a cult of the dead. Another theory suggests that torques may have been a form of currency based on their weight in gold. Most torques were found in Ireland, Britain, and France. Although the exact archaeological context for this Irish gold torque is unknown, it was most likely found in a hoard or buried with the deceased.

This rare and perfectly preserved gold torque will surely become a favorite with the Museum's audience for its elegant beauty and technical virtuosity. It was made during the Middle Bronze Age in Ireland, then a center of gold jewelry production. Torques may have been used as ceremonial jewelry or as a special form of currency. They were often found in hoards (groups of valuable objects often buried for safekeeping) in sites in Ireland, Britain, and France.

This is possibly the only intact torque of its type in the United States today. It extends the range of the Museum's jewelry collection into an earlier period and another part of the ancient world, broadening knowledge of the ancient gold industry and jewelry-making. Although the twisted neck ring looks simple, its mode of manufacture remains elusive. With help from the Museum's unique resource, RISD's Jewelry and Light Metals Department, it may be possible to replicate this rare object, thus providing a better understanding of its construction.