Bracelets

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These three gold bracelets were found at Law Farm at Urquhart in Moray, part of large hoard of at least 36 similar items, at least one of which was bronze. They were clearly made for ostentatious display, worn sometime between 300 BC and 50 AD.

The bracelets were made by twisting a narrow strip of gold. They fasten with two terminal hooks. The bracelets are also known by the term 'ribbon torcs'. Rings of this type vary in size. Smaller examples, such as these, were probably worn on the arm.

Prestige jewellery for the arms and neck, made of twisted strips of gold or bronze, is known from several hoards in Ireland and Britain. Most specimens, including the Law Farm hoard, date to the centuries around Christ.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-036-530-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.FE 87
• Date: Between 300 BC and 50 AD
  
• Material: Gold
  Gold; terminals rectangular in section
  Gold; twisted band; ends hooked
  Torc
  Torc
  Torc
  
• Dimensions: 3.70" D
  4.25" D
  4.50" D
  
• What: Torc
  Torc
  Torc
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Moray, Urquhart, Law Farm
  Scotland, Moray, Urquhart, Law Farm
  Scotland, Moray, Urquhart, Law Farm
  
• Event:
• Description: Gold ribbon torc from Law Farm, Urquhart, Moray
  Gold ribbon torc from Law Farm, Urquhart, Moray
  Gold ribbon torc from Law Farm, Urquhart, Moray
  
• References:
  • Coles, John M. Scottish late Bronze Age metalwork: typology, distributions and chronology. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 93 (1959-1960), pp 16-134, esp. pp 18, 92. 
• Translations:
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