LALAOUNIS: TORQUE AND BANGLE SUITE, CIRCA 1970 The hinged collar and bangle of reeded form, issuing a pair of scrolling terminals, unsigned, inner diameters: torque 12.2cm, bangle 5.0cm x 5.5cm, maker's case (2) 注脚 The spiral motif in this suite of jewellery was derived from a detail in a bas relief from the Treasury of Persepolis, representing the head of King Darius I (circa 550–486 BC). Lalaounis was invited to create a series of jewels inspired by Persian art by Empress Farah of Iran for presentation at the Iranian Court. The commission prompted Lalaounis and his team to undertake extensive research into the myriad of ancient motifs that have characterised centuries of Persian art. The smallest of details from colossal monuments, sculptures and bas reliefs were of "such intrinsic beauty", they came to inspire entire collections of jewellery. See Lalaounis, I. 'Metamorphoses', 1984, p.160-1, ill.p.166-7, figs.7 and 9.