Bracelet

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This bronze bracelet, of a type known as a spiral or 'snake' bracelet, was found at Pitalpin in Angus. It is a product of a local tradition of metal working specific to the North-east of Scotland during the 1st or 2nd century AD.

The bracelet was made by casting a long bronze rod, then coiling it into shape. First a negative impression with the decoration for the body and snake head ends was probably cut into wood. Then a wax model was made from the depression.

After tooling this was coated with clay to form a mould into which the bronze was poured. The long rod was then coiled by a process of annealing, hammering and quenching.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-036-124-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.FA 23
• Date: Between 0 and 200 AD
  
• Material: Spirally twisted
  Armlet
  
• Dimensions: 2.38" internal D
  
• What: Armlet
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Angus, Dundee, Pitalpin
  
• Event:
• Description: Spiral armlet from Pitalpin, Angus
  
• References:
  • MacGregor, Morna. Early Celtic art in North Britain. Leicester: Leicester University Press, 1976, vol. 1, pp. 103-4, 116; vol. 2, no. 217. 
• Translations:
• Related Records: