Archaeological Museum of Bologna

The glass bracelet worn by the deceased is one of the ornaments that best characterizes Celtic female goods. Among the Celts, these bracelets were among the most highly valued. They were generally worn on the arm and were often associated with ornaments made from other materials (gold, silver, bronze, ivory). Made of multicoloured glass, they were probably inspired by models from southern Europe, although Celtic craftsmen managed to create new and original forms and decorations.

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In this burial, the bracelet was associated with a vase with a very distinctive form, an olpe shaped like a top, a typical vase shape from the Transpadane area, inhabited by the Insubres, a population with which the Boii formed an alliance in the late 3rd century BC to fight the Roman conquest.

Provenance: Bologna, Benacci necropolis, tomb 921
Datation: Early 2nd century BC
Material: Vetro giallo