Loading, please wait...

Use mousewheel to zoom in and out, click to enlarge

Details

LOT 0033

Eastern Greek Carnelian Scarab Seal

6TH-5TH CENTURY B.C.

5/8 in. (2.29 grams, 16 mm).

Modelled with semi-naturalistic anatomical detailing, the base displaying a battle showing a mature and muscular naked man grappling with a winged gryphon; drilled for suspension.

Provenance

Ex F.A., Brussels, 1980.
Private collection of a London antiquarian.

Literature

Cf. a comparable scene in Boardman, J., Greek Gems and finger rings, early Bronze Age to Late Classical, London, 1973 (2001), no.361.

Footnotes

Combat between a man and gryphon is a well-attested subject matter on Greek scarabs. A faience factory was found in Naukratis by Flinders-Petrie, with innumerable faience and discarded moulds. The motifs on the bottom surface are repetitive and hurriedly worked. They depict lucky symbols or representative subjects (lions with sun disc, ibex, Horus falcons, lotus flowers); such motifs had already been adopted into Greek art but are generally considered typically Egyptian. Here the subject of a fight against a gryphon is Greek, although the style of the fighting character seems Phoenician, which points to Eastern Mediterranean workmanship, possibly on the Island of Rhodes.

CONDITION

VETTING:

TimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process


AUCTIONS:

TimeLine is a leading auction house specialising in antiquities, ancient art, collectables, natural history, coins, medals, and books. Our auctions offer museums, collectors, historians, and enthusiasts the opportunity to acquire unique and historically significant pieces.

LOT 0033

Eastern Greek Carnelian Scarab Seal

Sold for (Inc. bp): £5,200

Print page

RELATED LOTS

  • Minoan Lentoid Rock Crystal Seal
    Minoan Lentoid Rock Crystal Seal
    Circa 1450-1375 B.C.

    Sold for (Inc. bp): £2,470

    Displaying an incuse bull or other horned quadruped looking backwards; drilled for suspension. 3.63 grams, 18 mm



    Acquired in 1970. with Coins and Antiquities, formerly known as D.J. Crowther Ltd, Mayfair, London, UK. Private collection of a London antiquarian.

    The style of the lentoid seal has similarities with an agate lentoid seal from Fourni, Archanes, dated to the last period of the Cretan Palace in Knossos, before the island was occupied by the Achaeans. On the Cretan lentoid seals, single animals or a group of animals are plentiful. One of the most common motifs is that of a reclining or standing animal. Single animals are sometimes depicted with contorted bodies.

    Lot Details

  • Hellenistic Gold Beads with Granular Decoration
    Hellenistic Gold Beads with Granular Decoration
    2nd-1st century B.C.

    Sold for (Inc. bp): £364

    Of squat spherical form adorned with filigree wire to the equator, granules above and below. 1.84 grams, 9 mm each



    From the private collection of the late Mr S.M., London, UK, thence by descent.

    Lot Details

  • Eastern Greek Gold Turretted Brooch
    Eastern Greek Gold Turretted Brooch
    5th-3rd century B.C.

    Sold for (Inc. bp): £845

    Adorned with repoussé detailing and filigree borders and petals, domed centre with granules and applied scrolls, central corrugated claw set with glass(?); pin lug and catchplate to reverse. 8.74 grams, 40 mm



    From the collection of a North American gentleman, formed in the 1990s.

    Lot Details

Stay up-to-date with the latest from TimeLine Auctions by joining our mailing list