Hellenistic Gold Medallion Pendant with Sun Star

£ 600.00

A finely rendered Greek Hellenistic gold disc-shaped pendant,  hammered from thin gold, with a cabochon garnet inset to the centre. Radiating outwards from the garnet are delicate gold wires forming the shape of a sun star. The pendant outer borders are framed by braided gold wires, while the reverse remains smooth and unworked. A ribbed gold loop to the top for suspension. The decoration seen on this fine piece of jewellery recalls the Vergina Sun motif, a rayed solar symbol which appeared for the first time in Ancient Greece around the 6th century BC, lasting well into the Hellenistic period.

Date: Circa 3rd-1st Century BC
Provenance: From an Essex collection of a collector, bought from an early 1990’s collection.
Condition: Fine condition. Some earthly encrustations on the front. Suitable for modern wear with care.

SOLD

SKU: CS-72 Category: Tags: ,

As in many ancient societies, jewellery was an important social marker used to demonstrate wealth and richness. In Ancient Greek and Roman 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. The practice of wearing gold roundels as pieces of jewellery dates back to the Old Babylonian Period. Similar gold discs have been also recovered at the beginning of the 1st millennium BC from north-west Iran, precisely from the archaeological site of Hasanlu,  and from Cyprus.

 

Weight 1.43 g
Dimensions L 2.6 x W 1.9 cm
Culture

Region

Metal

Semi-Precious Stones

Reference: For a similar item, Christie’s, London, 5th October 2000, lot 40, auction 8890.