Greek Bronze Crescent Brooch

Composed mainly of types with a convex hoop, stepped shoulders and roughly oval-shaped bezel, most displaying an incuse human or animal figure. 51 grams total, 23-26 mm



Ex private collection, 1980s. Acquired on the UK art market in the 1990s.

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. 2.29 grams, 16 mm



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

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.

Likely for jewellery production, bearing an acanthus leaf motif in relief to one face, with delicate detailing. 78 grams, 57 mm



German collection before 2000. Collection of Mr.D.H., formed in UK, from the EU art market. Property of a Surrey gentleman.

In antiquity, matrices for raising jewellery elements, ornaments and plaques were made of bronze, stone or reinforced terracotta. Matrices with designs in relief were used as an alternative to matrices with hollow designs or intaglio matrices.