Many grand civilizations inhabited the area of Western Asia in Antiquity, and their wealth and prosperity are witnessed by the very sophisticated precious metal crafting of jewellery. Gold would have been hammered down to a thin layer and manipulated into different shapes. Gold and silver jewellery would have featured gold granules, glass and semi-precious stone inlays and detailed engravings. Very fine granulation, along with filigree, were at the centre of Near Eastern and Western Asiatic jewellery production and were later adopted by the Greeks, Etruscans and Romans.
Near Eastern Drop-Shaped Pendant with Carnelian
$372.82
A fine Near Eastern high karat gold pendant modelled into a bell like shape with an applied loop for suspension. Below hangs a beautiful carnelian pierced and carved to fit inside a gold hood, modelled from a thin layer of gold and finely hammered in repousse technique. Similar pendants have been recovered across many ancient civilisations, with some examples recovered from Greek graves dating to the Hellenistic period. Pendants of this type might have originally being part of a more elaborate necklace.
Provenance: Ex Japanese Private collection, 1980-2015
Condition: Fine, condition. Suitable for modern wear with care.
SOLD
| Weight | 3.24 g |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | L 2.5 cm |
| Culture | |
| Metal | |
| Semi-Precious Stones | |
| Region |