A GREEK GOLD NECKLACE

CIRCA MID 4TH CENTURY B.C.

Details

A GREEK GOLD NECKLACE
Circa Mid 4th Century B.C.
Composed of a length of two-fold figure-8 loop-in-loop chain, with terminals in the form of lion-heads joined to conical collars ornamented with two bands of filigree zig-zag beaded wire, framed on either end by plain and beaded wires, one lion holding a loop, the other a large Herakles knot of stout plain wire, the ends beaded and coiled into spirals, the knot embellished with a double palmette centered by a rosette, all of sheet fringed with beaded wire
16¾ in. (42.5 cm) long

Provenance

Fortuna Fine Arts, Ltd., New York

Literature

Deppert-Lippitz, The Gift of the Gods, Jewelry from the Ancient World, no. 51.

Lot Essay

Depictions in Greek art, particularly vases, suggests that this may have served as a thigh band rather than a necklace. For a related example see no. 386 in Karageorghis, et al., Ancient Art from Cyprus, The Cesnola Collection in The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

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