Greek Gold Amphora-Shaped Pendant

$537.08

A finely modelled Ancient Greek Hellenistic gold, garnet and glass miniature pendant in the shape of an amphora. The pendant features a stack of three beads including garnet and red glass, forming the body of the amphora. Beautifully scrolled gold filigree handles in an S shape have been applied to either side and a flat gold hoop to the top for suspension. The pendant might have originally been part of an earring: earrings with amphorae pendants have been largely recovered from Greek and Roman territories. A further gold loop has been added in antiquity to the top.

Date: Circa 4th – 3rd Century BC
Provenance: From the collection of a Japanese gentleman, deceased (1970-2010); collected in the 1990s.
Condition: Extremely fine, suitable for modern wear with care.

SOLD

SKU: GL-46 Category: Tag:

As in many ancient societies, jewellery was an important social marker used to demonstrate wealth and status. In Ancient Greek culture, jewellery was worn in everyday life but was also buried with the deceased as part of their funerary outfit. Jewellery might have been enriched by precious and semi-precious stones along with decorative motives which would have included popular myths, gods, goddesses, and heroes. Jewellery such as this beautiful miniature pendant was crafted and intended for everyday use, instead of being destined exclusively to a funerary purpose.

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

Weight 2.43 g
Dimensions L 2.4 cm
Culture

Metal

Region

Semi-Precious Stones