Middle Bronze age Bronze Lunar Amulet - 22 mm

"Middle Bronze Age Bronze Lunar Amulet
Culture / Period: Middle Bronze Age
Date / Period: Circa 2nd millennium B.C.
Material: Bronze
Dimensions: Not provided
Condition: Good archaeological condition, with surface deposits, wear and areas of green patination consistent with age.

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Provenance information:
Object Registration ID: 1023
The current owner (S.N.J. S.) purchased the lunar amulet from B.N. in Schiedam, the Netherlands.
The previous owner, B.N. from Schiedam, stated that the object had been in his collection, but the date of acquisition was not provided.
According to the previous owner, the object had previously formed part of a private collection in the Netherlands; the date of this earlier ownership is unknown.
No further information concerning the earlier ownership history of the object was available from the previous owner.

Background Information:
This bronze pendant is formed as a crescent or lunula, with two curved terminals surrounding a central opening and an integral suspension loop above. Such crescent-shaped ornaments belong to a long tradition of personal adornment in prehistoric societies. The large loop indicates that the piece was intended to be suspended, probably from a cord, necklace or element of clothing.

The crescent form is generally associated with the moon and appears in jewellery and amuletic objects across different cultures of the ancient world. Lunar symbolism was connected with the recurring phases of the moon and, depending on cultural context, could carry associations with protection, fertility, regeneration and the passage of time. Because the precise archaeological context of this example is unknown, however, its specific symbolic meaning cannot be established with certainty.

During the Bronze Age, the increasing use of copper alloys transformed both practical equipment and personal ornament. Bronze objects were produced by specialised metalworkers using casting and finishing techniques, while the copper and tin required for bronze manufacture circulated through extensive exchange networks. Small ornaments and pendants therefore reflect not only personal beliefs and identity but also the increasingly sophisticated craft traditions and long-distance connections characteristic of Bronze Age communities.

The simple but recognisable crescent design combines ornament with possible symbolic or protective significance. Worn on the body, such an object would have been a highly personal possession, visible in everyday life while potentially carrying meaning understood by its owner and community. It forms a tangible connection to the Bronze Age world and to the individuals who selected, wore and valued small metal ornaments thousands of years ago."