Bone Ornament
1200-900 B.C.
Medium
Decorative Arts
Classification
Decorative Arts
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of John Gellatly
Accession Number
1929.8.260.1
Art Historical Context
### Bone Ornament Step back in time over 3,000 years to encounter this delicate *Bone Ornament*, crafted between 1200 and 900 B.C. by an unidentified artist from an ancient culture. As a prime example of early decorative arts, this piece was fashioned from bone—a readily available natural material that ancient peoples transformed into objects of beauty and utility. Displayed in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Smithsonian, it exemplifies the ingenuity of pre-modern artisans who elevated everyday resources into enduring adornments. The ornament's creation during the late Bronze Age or eq...
About the Artist
Unidentified ( ) · –