Ancient Greek Gold and Garnet Pendant

£ 750.00

A fine ancient Greek gold pendant hammered from a thin layer of gold. The piece features a circular body, framed by fine gold filigree and a herringbone motif. A small bezel raises slightly at the centre, revealing a bright red cabochon garnet. This is emphasised by a delicate radial pattern executed with gold filigree. A large ridged loop was applied at the top of the medallion in antiquity.

Date: Circa 4th-2nd century BC
Provenance: Formerly property of an Essex collector; acquired on the UK art market; formerly in an early 1990s private collection.
Condition: Fine condition, the suspension loop is slightly dented.

SOLD

SKU: MG-348 Category: Tags: , ,

As in many ancient societies, jewellery was an important social marker used to demonstrate wealth and richness. In Ancient Greek culture jewellery was worn in everyday life but was also buried with the deceased as part of his or her funerary outfit. Jewellery might have been enriched by precious and semi-precious stones and decorative motives would have included popular myths, gods, goddesses, and heroes.

To discover more about gemstones in Antiquity, please visit our relevant blog post: The History and Mythology of Jewellery in Antiquity.

Weight 1.74 g
Dimensions W 2.1 x H 2.6 cm
Culture

Region

Metal

Semi-Precious Stones