A Large Samanid or early Ghaznavid Gold Armlet, Central Asia, 10th-11th Century

formed of a circular section sheet metal tube wrapped around the core, tapering to narrow shoulders with four large and two small applied granulated bosses arranged around the diamond-shaped clasp, the fixing pin running through the clasp

This exquisitely formed armlet is remarkable in the simplicity of its ornament.  Only the minute intricate clasp is there to contrast with the pure form of the rest.

Gold armlets of similar form are found in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (see Jenkins and Keane 1982, no.16) and the Freer Gallery of Art, Washington (see Atil 1985, pp.68-70)