C. 1000 BC. Hallstatt Culture. Cast bronze zoomorphic amulet in the form of a ram with short snout, long curving horns, clearly delineated legs and docked tail; a suspension hole runs horizontally behind the ram’s shoulders. Animal amulets are common in Bronze Age cultures, as they might associate their owners with the positive natural qualities – strength and fearlessness, for example – of wild beasts or the prestige of owning domesticated animals. The Hallstatt Culture, named for the village in Austria where it was first identified, is a Bronze Age Culture which flourished in much of Western and Central Europe between the 12th and 8th centuries BC; it is commonly associated with Proto-Celtic and Proto-Celtic societies and is known for the richness of its metalworking traditions. Excellent condition; beautiful patina.Size: L:43mm / W:23mm ; 7.43g; Provenance: From an old British collection formed in the 1990s;