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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.
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AUCTIONS:
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Phoenician Terracotta Bulla with a Dolphin
5th century B.C.Estimate: £120 - 170 (‡+bp*)
Current Winning 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. -
Phoenicio-Punic Terracotta Oil Lamp
Circa 3rd-2nd century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £52
A triangular body with a narrow spout and two filler holes at the sides. 75 grams, 86.6 mm
From the private collection of Mr Brian Edwards, New Malden, Surrey, UK, formed from the late 1970s-early 1980s; thence by descent. Accompanied by a collector's data information card with collection reference no.119. -
Greek Bronze Ring with Standing Goddess
Circa 4th-2nd century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £130
Comprising a slender round-section hoop and a lentoid bezel with a standing goddess before a pillar. 1.92 grams, 16.72 mm overall, 13.16x15.37 mm internal diameter (approximate size British G, USA 3 1/4, Europe 4.92, Japan 4)
From the private collection of a European gentleman (1942-2024), formed since the 1970s.
