Hellenistic Gold Fine Repousse Leaf

£ 175.00

A beautiful Hellenistic Greek gold sheet decorated with repousse linear decoration, flaring at the base and finished with a lobed base. Possibly an element that formed part of a wreath. An exceptionally well preserved leaf with beautiful detailing.

Date: Circa 4th-3rd century BC
Provenance: Ex SM collection, Isreal, acquired 1970 - 1999, entire collection had an export license (not provided).
Condition: Excellent.

SOLD

SKU: AH-841 Category: Tags: ,

A leaf such as this would most likely have formed part of a gold wreath. They were modelled on wreaths of floral garlands and leaves worn at religious ceremonies or given as prizes to winning athletes and poets. Due to their fragile nature gold wreaths were not typically worn but were meant as dedications at temples to the gods, or placed in graves as offerings.

Examples of wreaths do exist from earlier times, for example from the Minoan period, however they became immensely popular in the Hellenistic period. The availability of gold increased with Alexander the Greats conquests and wreaths and leaves such as this were the result. Perhaps the most famous example of a full wreath is the myrtle wreath found at Vergina, in the tomb of Philip II, and supposedly belonging to Meda, the Thracian princess and fifth wife of Philip II.

Weight 0.37 g
Dimensions L 3.9 x W 2.3 cm
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