Celtic torque. Central Europe, 4th century BC.

Celtic torque. Central Europe, 4th century BC.
Bronze.
Provenance: Mmme B. Collection, Brussels, inherited from German relatives in 2020.
Measurements: 14 cm.

Torque made from a single bronze rod, twisted to create a helical finish, forming a hoop. The torque is the typical necklace of the Celtic culture, with a rigid and open structure that we can also find in smaller pieces such as bracelets. Most scholars agree that the torques were worn as a sign of nobility and high social status. It would have been a military decoration given to warriors for their exploits in battle, and also a divine attribute, as we see in the sacred representations of the Celts.