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_900x900.jpg "Greek Solid Gold Ring Idol")
_200x200.jpg "Greek Solid Gold Ring Idol")
.jpg "Greek Solid Gold Ring Idol")
LOT 0107
Greek Solid Gold Ring Idol
5TH-4TH MILLENNIUM B.C.
3/4 in. (0.66 grams, 18 mm).
Annular in form with pierced tab.
ProvenancePrivate collection, acquired in the late 1980s-early 1990s; thence by descent.
LiteratureCf. Mărgărit M., and Boroneanț, A., Beauty and the eye of Beholder, personal adornment across the millennia, Targoviște, 2020, fig.2p, for a similar gold ‘Ring Idol’ Pendant from Megalo Nisi Galanis.
FootnotesDuring the Greek Neolithic, certain types of ornaments share common morphological characteristics; one such example is the so-called ‘ring-idols’. The prototype of these ring-shaped pendants seems to have been made out of gold, which began to be used during these late phases of the Neolithic in Greece and the Balkans, in general.
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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Phrygian Bronze Bow Brooch
Iron Age, circa 6th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £46
With crescentic body decorated with raised bosses, a curved catch to one arm and remains of a coiled spring to the other. 9.29 grams, 35.7 mm
From the private collection of a European gentleman (1942-2024), formed since the 1970s. -
Greek Bronze Ring
Circa 4th-2nd century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £26
Comprising a slender round-section hoop and an oval bezel. 2.53 grams, 25.76 mm overall, 19.02x21.72 mm internal diameter (approximate size British T 1/2, USA 9 3/4, Europe 21.89, Japan 21)
From the private collection of a European gentleman (1942-2024), formed since the 1970s. -
Phoenician Terracotta Bulla with a Dolphin
5th century B.C.Estimate: £120 - 170 (‡+bp*)
Opening Bid: £67
Plano-convex in profile with impressed dolphin and legend. 1.05 grams, 17.71 mm
Acquired in 1994. Private collection, Switzerland, thence by descent. Private collection, since the late 1990s.
This Phoenician terracotta bulla, decorated with a dolphin, reflects the strong maritime identity of the Phoenician world. Bullae were typically used to seal documents or goods, serving both a practical and symbolic function in trade and administration. The dolphin, a creature closely associated with the sea, would have held particular meaning for the Phoenicians, whose culture and prosperity were deeply tied to seafaring and commerce across the Mediterranean. Often seen as a symbol of protection, guidance, and safe passage, the dolphin adds an additional layer of meaning to the object, suggesting not only its use in everyday transactions but also a connection to the wider beliefs and environment of the ancient coastal world.
