ITEM: Ring
MATERIAL: Bronze
CULTURE: Iron Age, Central Asia, Amlash or Bactrian
PERIOD: 1st millenium B.C
DIMENSIONS: 22 mm diameter
CONDITION: Good condition
PROVENANCE: Ex English private collection, acquired from London Gallery (1970s - 2000s)

Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and Export Licence. If you are from outside the European Union, we will have to apply for the export licence again for your country, this takes 3 to 5 weeks and has a cost of 5% of the hammer price, this amount will be added to the final invoice.

The Bactrian culture thrived in the region of Bactria, which encompassed parts of present-day Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan, during the Bronze Age, roughly from the 3rd to the 2nd millennium BCE. Bactria served as a crucial crossroads along the ancient Silk Road, connecting the civilizations of the Mediterranean, Central Asia, China, and the Indian subcontinent. The culture is known for its advanced urban centers, sophisticated metallurgy, and rich artistic traditions. Bactrian art often depicted scenes of daily life, mythical creatures, and religious motifs. The Bactrians are also believed to have played a significant role in the spread of early Indo-Iranian languages and culture.

On the other hand, Amlash culture was prevalent in the Amlash region of northern Iran during the Iron Age, dating roughly from the 1st millennium BCE. The Amlash culture is characterized by its distinctive pottery styles, including painted ceramics adorned with intricate geometric and zoomorphic designs. Archaeological evidence suggests that Amlash society was organized into small-scale agricultural communities, with evidence of terraced agriculture and irrigation systems. Additionally, Amlash culture is notable for its burial practices, which often included inhumation in cemeteries and burial mounds, sometimes accompanied by grave goods such as pottery vessels and metal objects.

While the Bactrian and Amlash cultures developed in different time periods and geographical regions, they both represent important stages in the cultural evolution of the broader Central Asian and Iranian regions.