This ancient gold torque is an example of the ridged circlet type of necklace which is characteristic of Bactria and the Middle East. Bactria is the ancient name for the region of northern Afghanistan between the Hindu Kush mountains and the Oxus river. This area was a lucrative trade center on the silk road, providing a meeting place for many cultures and empires. The Greeks conquered this region under Alexander the Great. They were eventually conquered by the Yuezi from China, who founded the powerful Kushan empire.  Handcrafted out of a very high purity gold alloy, this torque is decorated with a variety of incised abstract patterns, increasing in  complexity from the terminal ends to the middle. It measures 16 inches inner circumference, 5-1/4 inches lateral diameter, 4-7/8 inches vertical diameter and 2 inches opening between the terminals; weight 93.5 g.
PROPERTY OF A NEW YORK GENTLEMAN

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