Torque silver and steel

Torque type bracelet, sterling silver, steel and Asturian Jet of first quality. Made in Galicia (Spain) by expert goldsmiths.

Measurement: Adjustable.
Hoop thickness: 4 millimeters.
Maximum tip thickness: 14 mm

Where do the Torques come from? What are they? Here we tell you a little about the history of these jewels:

A torque, also written as torq or torc (from the Latin 'torqueo', to twist, due to the twisted shape of the collar) is a rigid and round collar, which is open at the front, like a circular horseshoe. Typically, the two tips of the torque featured ornaments carved with spheres, cubes or zoomorphic shapes, and less frequently human figures. The body of the necklace was normally, but not always, coated. Although the most common were necklaces, there were also bracelets in this way. The torques were made of interwoven metal ropes, usually gold, bronze or copper, and in very few cases silver.

It is important to note that because "torc" means in ancient Irish "wild boar", similar to the "French bulls", a relationship can be established with the sacred value of the animal in Celtic mythology. This would suggest some kind of equivalence between the collar and the animal symbol for death and resurrection.

The torques were used by several peoples of the Bronze Age, from 1000 BC. C., until about the year 300, including the Galatians (or Celts of Anatolia), several Germanic tribes of Scythia and the Persians. However, it is widely known as a typically Celtic necklace, from the La Tène era, worn mostly by Bretons, Gauls and Iberians.

One of the earliest known representations of a torque is found in the Hirschlanden Warrior, an itifálica statue of a naked warrior made of sandstone, the oldest life-size anthropomorphic representation of the Iron Age found north of the Alps. It was performed by the Hallstat culture in the early Iron Age (800-475 BC) and can be observed at the Württembergisches Landesmuseum in Stuttgart.

Representations of gods and goddesses in Celtic mythology frequently show the use of torques. The famous sculpture of the "Dying Galatian" [1] Roman copy of the Greek original, shows a warrior, Gallic, wounded who is naked except for the torque. Examples of this have been discovered in Britain and Europe during archaeological studies [2]. A notable example was found in the Anglo-Saxon burial mound of Sutton Hoo.

Some authors think that torque was a feminine ornament for women until the fourth century BC. C., when it became an attribute of warriors. However, most authors disagree, arguing that they were used as a sign of nobility and high social status: a military decoration granted to warriors for their deeds in battle, as well as a divine attribute, based on the fact that many representations of gods Celts carry one or more torques. Images of the god Cernunnos have been found carrying a torque around his neck, torques hanging from his antlers or holding in his hand, as well as torques in the tombs of Celtic princes.

Because the Roman consul Titus Manlius after defying a Frenchman in a fight and killing him, took his torque and always wore it, he received the nickname Torquatus (the one that carries a torque). In this way the Romans adopted the torque as a decoration for distinguished soldiers and elite units during the Roman Republican period.

The two main torques of the Final Bronze found in the Peninsula (and more specifically in present-day Extremadura) belong to two goldsmiths in gold, called respectively Treasury of Berzocana (Cáceres, 1964) and Treasure of Sagrajas (Badajoz, 1970). Both are currently in the National Archaeological Museum of Spain, in Madrid.

Notable pieces have also been found in Arguedas (Navarra), in a Celtiberian necropolis of the second Iron Age (300 BC), which due to the incinerations of the body were found fragmented. Only one was found in excellent condition, bronze, with two flattened balls on each end.

Also, on the coast of Lugo, a pair of solid gold was found, an outstanding piece belonging to the Asturian type, dating from the first century. It comes from Chao do Castro, Burela city council, and belonged to the Blanco-Cicerón Collection, of the What happened to Gil Varela. The characteristics of this torques are those of this type: rod of circular section, wires wound in the two thirds ends and truncated cone and scotland. The central third has a good filigree job. Today it is exhibited in the Provincial Museum of Lugo. It measures 211 mm in diameter and 65 mm in length of the auctions, with a weight of 1,812 grams of good quality gold (23 carats), weight well above the average weight that used to have the Celtic torques, about 500 grams.

Modern torques
The hippie movement of the 60 'and 70' returned torque to fashion, not only as necklaces and bracelets, but also as rings. Torques bracelets are frequently used today by men and women. On the other hand, torques are popularly used as piercing in the ears, nipples, navels and other parts of the body.

Torque is also the symbol of Saoi, the highest honor in Aosdána, the Irish organization of artists, which can be awarded to any of its members.

Some European neo-pagan movements, Celtic wicca, neodruidismo and ásatrú have recovered old traditions and customs in the use of torques and other decorative complements.