Ancient Greek Hellenistic Gold and Carnelian Dolphin Amphora Pendant

£725.00

An exquisite Ancient Greek gold pendant with a carnelian bead centre dating to the Hellenistic Period. The pendant is shaped as an amphora, with the carnelian making up the main body. The tapering bottom of the semi-precious stone is encased in gold, leading to a carinated round foot. Gold also encases the top of the amphora from the shoulder to the mouth, balancing the colour distribution neatly. The curving handles are presented as stylised dolphins: the tails join at the shoulder and the gold widens at the head, featuring a hemispherical incision to indicate the pectoral fin. Three additional slanted fins are delicately carved. The pendant features a loop at the top for suspension.

Date: Circa 2nd-1st Century AD
Condition: Very fine. Some small indentations to the carnelian. Some earthy encrustations to the gold.

SOLD

SKU: KW-51 Category: Tag:

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. In Ancient Greek and Roman mythology dolphins were associated with the sea and with the sphere of sensual love, bearing an amatory symbolism. Because of the assonance between the ancient Greek word delphis, δελφίς, meaning dolphin, and the word delphus, δελφύς, meaning womb, dolphins were considered animals sacred to Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, fertility and desire.

To find out more about different metal decorative techniques please see our relevant blog post: Decorative Metalwork Techniques

Weight 1.39 g
Dimensions W 1.1 x H 2.3 cm
Culture

Metal

Region

Semi-Precious Stones

Reference: For a similar item with amphora shape and dolphin handles,The British Museum, item 1904,0706.1

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