Torque silver and jet

Torque made in sterling silver and Azabache Asturian premium.
Size: Adjustable.

Where do they come torques? What are you ?, then we have a little history of these jewels:

Torque, also written as torq or torc (Latin 'torquing', 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 ends of torque had ornaments carved with spheres, cubes, or zoomorphic forms, and less often human figures. The body of the necklace was usually, but not always, coated. Although the most common were necklaces, bracelets also existed in this way. Torques were made of interlocking metal strings, usually gold, bronze or copper, and silver in very few cases.

Importantly, because "torc" in Old Irish means "boar", similar to "torcos" Gallo, you can establish a relationship with the sacred value of the animal in Celtic mythology. This would suggest some kind of equivalence between the collar and the animal symbol of death and resurrection.

Torques were used by various peoples of the Bronze Age, from 1000 to. C., until about 300, including the Galatians (Celts or Anatolia), several Germanic tribes of Scythia and Persians. However, it is widely known as a typical Celtic necklace, from the period of La Tene, led mainly by Britons, Gauls and Iberians.

One of the earliest known depictions of a torque is in the Warrior Hirschlanden a 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 conducted by the Hallstatt culture in the early Iron Age (800-475 BC.) and can be observed in the Württembergisches Landesmuseum in Stuttgart.

The representations of gods and goddesses in Celtic mythology frequently show the use of torques. The famous sculpture "Dying Gaul" [1] Roman copy of a Greek original, shows a warrior, Gallic wounded 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 tomb of Sutton Hoo Anglo.

Some authors think that the torque was a feminine ornament for women until the fourth century. C., when an attribute of warriors turned. However, most authors disagree, arguing that they were used as a sign of nobility and high social status: a military decoration awarded to warriors for their deeds in battle, as well as a divine attribute, based on many representations of gods Celtic take one or more torques. Images were found god Cernunnos wearing a torque around his neck, torques hanging from his antlers or held in hand and torques on the graves of Celtic princes.

Because the Roman consul Titus Manlius after a Gallic challenge to a fight and kill him, took his torque and always took him since, received the nickname Torquatus (the one torque). In this way the Romans adopted the torque as a decoration for distinguished soldiers and elite units during the Republican period.

The two main torques Late Bronze found in the Peninsula (and particularly in the current Extremadura) belong to two separate sets of goldsmith, respectively called Treasury Berzocana (Cáceres, 1964) and Treasury Sagrajas (Badajoz, 1970). Both are now in the National Archaeological Museum of Spain, in Madrid.

Also they have been remarkable pieces in Arguedas (Navarra), in a Celtiberian necropolis of the second Iron Age (300 BC.), That because of the cremations were found fragmented body. Only one was found in excellent condition, bronze, with two balls flattened at each end.

Also, on the coast of Lugo solid gold torque, a prominent piece belonging to asturnorgalaico type, dating from the first century Chao should do Castro, City of Burela, and belonged to the Collection White-Cicero, he found the He happened to Gil Varela. This torque characteristics are typical of this type: circular rod, coiled wires at both ends and tapered and Scotland thirds auctions. The central third has a good filigree work. Today it is exhibited in the Provincial Museum of Lugo. It measures 211 mm in diameter and 65 mm length of the coping, with a weight of 1,812 grams of good quality gold (23 karat), weight well above the average weight they used to Celtic torques, about 500 grams.


Modern torques

The hippie movement of the 60's and 70's back to the torque to fashion not only as necklaces and bracelets, but also as rings. Torques bracelets are often used today by men and women. Moreover, the torques are used popularly as pierced ears, nipples, navels and other body parts.

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

Some European, Celtic Wicca, Neo-Druidism Asatru and neo-pagan movements have recovered old traditions and customs in the use of torques and other decorative accessories.