LOT 0103

Large Greek Gold Repoussé Dress Pin with Figural Scenes

ARCHAIC, CIRCA 6TH CENTURY B.C.

11 in. (71.1 grams, 28 cm).

Composed of a round-section stem tapering to a point (chipped), the upper section with five figural panels separated by horizontal bands of granulation; each panel with figures executed in granulation including opposed pairs of rearing lions, perching bird, dancing humans, two-headed figure with fronds; below these panels, an applied gold wire loop with recurved end; above, a hollow-formed bulbous finial with a repoussé frieze in two registers: below - winged heroes grappling with gryphons and other beasts in a landscape with granulated detailing, with ropework bands to the equator; above - opposed gryphons flanking a facing master of beasts with head turned, and horsemen advancing towards an anguiped; disc finial to the apex with three repoussé swans in profile. [No Reserve]

Acquired at auction in Geneva or Basel circa 1989.
From the private collection of a Swiss gentleman collector, thence by descent 2018.

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 search certificate no.13409- 259878.

Cf. Marshall, F.H., Catalogue of the jewellery Greek, Etruscan & Roman in the departments of Antiquities of the British Museum, London, 1911, pl. X (small examples of dress pins), XIV no.1250 and pl.XXXIX, n.1999, for type; cf. Elderkin, K. McK., ‘Buttons and their use on Greek garments’ in American Journal of Archaeology, vol.32, n.3, Jul-Sep., 1928, pp.333-345; for similar decorated pins cf. Despini, A., Greek Art, Ancient Gold Jewellery, Athens, 1996, figs.172-173; cf. Архипова, Є.І., Відейко М.Ю., Клочко В.І., Клочко Л.С., Левада М.Є; Симоненко О.В., Стоянов, Р.В, Колекція предметів старовини родин Платонових та Тарут, Київ, 2004; see Yavtushenko, I. (eds.), Masterpieces of Platar, Kiev, 2004; cf. Brons, C., 'Representations and realities. Fibulas and pins in Greek and Near Eastern Iconography’ in Nosch, M., & Harlow, M. (eds.), Greek and Roman textiles and dress: an interdisciplinary Anthology, Oxford, 2014, pp.60-94.

Since Greek clothing was not sewn, straight pins and fibulae (safety pins) were used to fasten a garment at the shoulders, the sleeves, over the chest, and at other critical points. Pins were already in use in the Early Bronze Age, but highly decorated pins were in use from the 7th-6th centuries B.C., when vertical incisions, grooves and mythical figures appeared on the spherical beads, pendants and heads of the pins. Gold pins with disc-shaped terminals and spherical heads have been recovered from the archaic tombs of Macedonia, where the decoration was developed on the surface of the spheres in filigree and repoussé techniques.