Greek Floral Gold Pendant with Garnet

Furniture fitting comprising a square panel with raised border and four stub feet, poppy head finials (one absent); hollow-formed banqueteer reclining with weight on his left elbow and proper right leg bent beneath his pleated robe; right hand raised supporting a ram's head rhyton, left hand supporting a skyphos; wreath of laurel leaves around his bearded head. 1.58 kg, 25 cm



Private New York collection, formed in the 1960s. Acquired on the North American art market, 1990s. with Cahn Auktionen AG, Basel, Switzerland, 13 November 2015, no.84 (CHF 18,000). Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D'Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12379-226873.

The Greek 'συμπόσιον' 'symposion' was the later part of a formal banquet which took place after the food had been consumed, when the serving of strong drink was accompanied by music, dancing, poetic composition or recital or earnest conversation. The custom has similarities with the Roman convivium and with the customs of many Mediterranean and Western Asiatic people. The Parthian Empire was culturally diverse and included many Hellenic groups; the Arsacid court adopted a range of aspects of contemporary Greek culture, among them Greek military structures and the Greek language as a lingua franca alongside the Parthian (Iranian) language and Aramaic.

With domed plaque and ribbed hook; the plaque formed as the pinions and folded wings of a bird of prey, the ribbed neck extending to a dog's head with ears folded back, hook protruding from the mouth; palmette decoration to finial; mounted on a custom-made stand. 149 grams total, 86 mm wide including stand



English private collection. with ArtAncient Ltd, 2013. Private collection, London.

Comprising three mounts in the shape of an eagle with hooked beak, a wolf, and a leopard; each with D-shaped loop to the reverse. 7.1 grams total, 15-21 mm



Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of Surrey, UK, gentleman.