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LOT 0095
Greek Gold Necklace with Amuletic Pendants
5TH-4TH CENTURY B.C.
20 3/4 in. (42.02 grams, 52.5 cm long).
An elaborate two-tiered necklace composed of granulated pendants, most with a teardrop-shaped breloque suspended below and two with an applied rosette to the centre; interspersed with a selection of gold beads comprising lions, bulls, leopards, a sphinx, and a siren; central feature comprising a bead formed as a man riding a lion(?) flanked by two drops, one with a seated sphinx and the other a stylised fish, both with a teardrop-shaped pendant drop; suspended from a plaited chain, no clasp; repaired.
ProvenanceAcquired in the mid 1980s-1990s.
Private collection, Switzerland, thence by descent.
Private collection, since the late 1990s.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12387-226694.
See Higgins, R.A., Greek and Roman Jewellery, London, 1961, pl.33, for a necklace with multiple pendants, pl.27, for similar applied rosettes; Williams, D. & Ogden, J., Greek Gold. Jewelry of the Classical World, New York, 1994, pp.116-117, pl.68, for an elaborate necklace with seed-like pendants; The Aidonia Treasure. Seals and Jewellery of the Aegean Late Bronze Age, Athens, 1996, pl.33, for the chain type.
CONDITIONTimeLine 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:
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Greek Black-Figure Oinochoe
6th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,690
With pinched three-lobe mouth and strap handle; threads and details highlighted in purple; decorated scene in square metope comprising two dancing figures, one male and the other female, probably symposiasts; the male naked, holding a stick in his right hand and with the other arm carrying his coat; the female, a hetaera, dancing and running to the right, wearing a long chiton and a coat. 423 grams, 20.3 cm
Acquired in the mid 1980s-1990s. From the family collection of Mr S.A., Switzerland, thence by descent. Private collection since the late 1990s. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12089-218152. -
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Hellenistic Garnet Gemstone with Hercules Club and Lionskin
2nd century B.C.Estimate: £2,000 - 3,000 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £1,000
Plano-convex with incuse image of spiked club and lionskin mantle. 1.8 grams, 17 mm
Acquired in the 1970s. Ex London, UK, collection. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12386-226380. -
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Large Greek Apulian Red-Figure Skyphos with Maenad
4th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £9,100
With stepped foot and two loop handles to the rim, egg-and-dart border; Side A: female in loosely draped chiton holding a dish in her raised left hand and advancing towards an altar, looking to her rear and with her right arm extended; Side B: nude male in similar pose to the female, with mantle draped over his left elbow, gripping a thyrsus, the head wrapped in a band or taenia; volute scroll beneath each handle. 1.74 kg, 34 cm wide
Acquired in the mid 1980s-1990s. Private collection, Switzerland, thence by descent. Private collection, since the late 1990s. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12364-226707.
The thyrsus in the hand of the male figure implies that he is a worshipper of Dionysus, and this impression is strengthened by the casual discarding of his clothing which is draped over his arm. The female may then be interpreted as a Maenad, a member of the group of devotees who accompanied the god and led the celebrations in his worship. A combination of protracted and vigorous dancing combined with wine-drinking led to an ecstatic frenzy in which the god was honoured.
