4TH-3RD CENTURY B.C.

Details

A PAIR OF TARENTINE HOLLOW GOLD LION-HEADED EARRINGS
4TH-3RD CENTURY B.C.
Each with double lion head terminals, the hoop composed of twisted wires wound into a hollow spiral, the lion heads composed of sheet gold with details finely chased, the larger terminals with large ruff in the mane framing the face, a band of wire rope filigree behind joining sheet gold conical collars elaborately decorated with band containing filigree ivy frieze, the leaves of which contain bright blue enamel, and smaller band of filigree tongues, the smaller lion-head terminal with fine wire projecting from the mouth hooked into a wire rope loop projecting from the larger lion's mouth
¾ in. (2 cm.) diam. max. (2)

Provenance

Finckenstein collection.
Stahlberg collection.

Exhibited

Kunst der Antike, Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe, Hamburg, 1977.

Special notice

VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price plus buyer's premium.

Lot Essay

Cf. E. M. De Julius, Gli oro di Taranto, Milan, 1984, no. III, for an almost identical example; also D. Williams and J. Ogden, Greek Gold: Jewellery of the Classical World, The British Museum, London, 1994, no. 148., p. 215; and F. H. Marshall, Catalogue of the Jewellery, Greek, Etruscan and Roman, The British Museum, London, 1911, nos. 1769-1770, p. 191, pl. XXXI.

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