Auction December 3rd 2019
Something looking like a necklace with a Heracles Knot, rosettes & ends terminating in lion heads. Greek, ca late 4th C BCE; gold; length 38 cm.
This jewel has a mysterious to me title “THIGH-BAND”.
Sotheby’s description:
“Property from a Swiss Private Collection
A GREEK GOLD THIGH-BAND, CIRCA LATE 4TH CENTURY B.C.
with braided chain of cylindrical section terminating at each end in the head of a lion, the clasp in the form of a Herakles Knot decorated with rosettes and ends terminating in lion heads.
Length 38 cm.” auction page
Gold earring or hair-ring, in the form of tubular spiral decorated with filigree and granulation, ended with the ram heads. Greek, ca 4th C BCE.
Sotheby’s description:
“Property from the Estate of Jan Mitchell
A GREEK GOLD EARRING OR HAIR-RING, SOUTHERN ITALY, CIRCA 4TH CENTURY B.C.
in the form of a tapering tubular spiral finely decorated with four filigree spirals flanked by palmettes possibly once enameled, some granule ornament remaining, the terminals each in the form of a carefully modeled ram’s head, the collars decorated with serpentine filigree.
Length 2.8 cm.; ram’s heads 1.2 cm.” auction page
Very interesting ring with a relief depicting three Dionysiac figures, including Silenus on the left. Hellenistic, 3rd C BCE.
It’s interesting, because the frame of “medallion” is interrupted, then another part of it is added. Such inaccuracy is remarkable for Greek goldsmithery.
Sotheby’s description:
“Property from a Swiss Private Collection
A HELLENISTIC GOLD RING WITH RELIEF DECORATION, CIRCA 3RD CENTURY B.C.
with flat ribbed hoop and circular bezel with beaded border, stylized leaves on the shoulders, the bezel ornamented in relief with three Dionysiac figures, including Silenus on the left.
Height 2.3 cm.; width of bezel 2 cm.; weight 27.9 gr.” auction page
