Arman, a well-known sculptor associated with the 1960s "Nouveau Réalisme" movement, was born in Nice in November 1928. At the age of eighteen, he moved to Paris where he began a career in abstract painting and, more importantly, sculpture. Among artists that he is closely associated with are César and Martial Raysse. His sculpture may be divided in two categories: his so-called "accumulations" in which he selects one subject, watches or cans for example, and puts them in a perspex box. The second variety in his oeuvre is the divided or sliced sculpture, normally executed in bronze, for which he takes objects, frequently musical instruments, breaks them up and juxtaposes them. Eventually, Arman was drawn to micro-sculpture, which lead also to a foray in jewellery creation. Part of a series of eight, this bracelet, with its various musical instruments, is an excellent example of his jewels. It also illustrates his fascination for music and its apparata. Another fine piece, a gold violin pendant necklace, was sold by Christie's Geneva in May 1992 (lot 132) for SFr. 27,500.