Bracelet with Goats' Head Terminals c. 6th century

Curator: Here we have a bracelet, adorned with goat's head terminals, currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Oh, it feels ancient, almost like it was plucked straight from a myth. There's a raw, earthy quality to it. Curator: The artist remains unknown, but the formal qualities speak volumes. Notice the patina, the way the copper has oxidized, creating a verdant surface that articulates its age. Editor: It's also strangely captivating how those little goat heads seem to gaze inward. I keep wondering what story they could tell. Curator: Indeed, the bracelet's circular form is itself symbolic, perhaps representing eternity or the cyclical nature of life. The goat heads add a layer of ritualistic significance. Editor: Well, I guess what I’m really responding to is the feeling it evokes—of connection to something really old. Curator: Precisely. And in its restrained form, it opens up a space for contemplation. Editor: So simple, yet so evocative. A tiny portal to the past.