Gold Roman Style Medusa Pendant Necklace

The upper body of a young female figure, likely the goddess Venus, shrouded in a palla mantle worn over the robe and draped over the head as a hood; the left arm bent to form folds and gatherings in the cloth, the right arm shown beneath the cloth held bent to the right breast; after the antique. 133 kg, 84 cm high



French collection, 1960s-early 2000s. From an important Paris gallery, France. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.12090-213905.

In Roman mythology, Venus was the goddess of love, sex, beauty and fertility. Married to the god Vulcan, Venus' principal divine lover was Mars, with whom she was famously trapped in bed with a net by Vulcan. The goddess also had numerous mortal lovers - Adonis for example. The earliest known appearance of a temple dedicated to Venus was founded on the Aventine Hill in 295 B.C. She is most closely associated with the month of April, the beginning of the season of spring.

Presenting a scalloped frame and bifacial black enamelled detailing: one side with the Crucifixion scene, niello 'IC XC' in the field, two saints at the foot of the cross, scrolling borders; the reverse with 'IC XC / NI KA' over two lines with cross between; articulate and facetted loop. 30.9 grams, 51 mm



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

A small reliquary pendant, possibly containing the remains of cloth or bone of a saint. The relics had to be kept in containers that expressed the dignity of their contents: chests, cases and, of course, reliquaries. This also applied to personal relics, often in the form of pendants, which were sometimes made in gold and silver.

Rectangular in form with shallow circular dot numerals showing 4 and 5; blank reverse. 3 grams, 3 cm



Found near Custom House Quay on the Thames foreshore, London, UK.