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LOT 0542
Greek Gold Bird Pendant with Garnet and Pearl Drop
5TH-3RD CENTURY B.C.
1 in. (2.29 grams, 26 mm).
Composed of a bifacial zoomorphic body in the form of a bird, with detailing to the head and feathers; circular cell to one face containing possible remains of black glass; two dangles below, one featuring a granulated gold bead above a pearl bead, the other a granulated gold bead and a polished garnet stone; ribbed suspension loop above; a marriage.
ProvenanceAcquired 1970-2010.
Collection of a late Japanese gentleman.
Cf. Ogden, J. and Williams, D., Greek Gold: Jewelry Of The Classical World, New York, 1994, p.79, for a similar animal form produced as an appliqué and dated 5th century B.C.
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 0542
Greek Gold Bird Pendant with Garnet and Pearl Drop
Estimate £400 - 600€460 - 700 (for guidance only)$540 - 810 (for guidance only)
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Etruscan Tinned Bronze Armoured Belt Hook
6th-5th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £46
Composed of a scalloped foliate plate and tapering neck, displaying geometric and foliate detailing. 26 grams, 11.7 cm
Acquired in the 1970s. Private collection of a London antiquarian. -
Eastern Greek Carnelian Scarab Seal
6th-5th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £5,200
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. -
Early Cypriot Terracotta Bottle
Bronze Age, circa 2300-1650 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,040
Black burnished with rounded underside, incised pattern of roundels and linear bands to shoulder and neck, flared rim. 142 grams, 11.5 cm high
From the collection of Mr Leinonen, by descent to his son, Stan Leinonen.