Provenance: Nasli Heeramaneck (1902-1971), New York, prior to 1964. Jay C. Leff Collection (1925-2000), Uniontown, Pennsylvania; thence by descent.Gold has been a symbol of wealth and influence for centuries. The lion-headed terminals of this striking gold bracelet reflect a motif that spans across millennia in Western Asia, where the imagery of lions—both real and mythological—has held great significance. The rich artistic traditions of this region, which produced objects of remarkable beauty, left an enduring influence on the Mediterranean world, from the Mycenaean period onward.Likely crafted in a local workshop, the open-mouthed lions on this bracelet bear resemblance to an example found in the Kurdistan region, now housed at The Louvre Abu Dhabi (Inv. no. LAD2009.019). Drawing from diverse artistic traditions, ranging from Assyria in the west to Urartu and Scythia in the north, the lions’ fierce expressions have been softened through an adherence to decorative convention. The assimilation of artistic influences from neighboring cultures would later become a defining feature of the Persian Empire’s political and cultural strength. As seen in the variation of animal-headed bracelets, it was not the most powerful culture that dictated artistic trends, but rather the most skilled craftsmen who shaped them.

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