A pair of Israelite Bronze Cymbals, ca. 930 BCE

Both consist of a circular, flat bronze plate with a pierced domed center designed for attachment to a strap or cord handle. Background: In contrast to the large, thin cymbals familiar today, cymbals from the Biblical period were generally much smaller and thicker in form. Archaeological examples excavated in the Levant and Palestine indicate two principal types: a smaller variety measuring approximately 1.25 to 2.5 inches (3–6 cm) in diameter, such as the present examples, and a larger form ranging from approximately 3 to 5 inches (8–12 cm). Within the Biblical text, cymbals are briefly referenced in passages such as Samuel 2 and 6:5, and Psalms 150:5, where they are associated with musical celebration and ritual performance. The smaller examples are thought to correspond to hand or finger cymbals, comparable to the clapper cymbals and dance cymbals still used in Middle Eastern musical traditions today. Medium: Bronze Dimensions: Diameter: 2 3/16 inches (5.5 cm) Condition: Overall intact and in good condition, with expected light surface wear to the bronze. Provenance: Ex Nelson Rockefeller / Megan Marshack Collection, accompanied by an original sales receipt from J. Zadok & Sons Jerusalem.