A GREEK GREEN STEATITE ISLAND GEM

CIRCA MID 7TH CENTURY B.C.

Details

A GREEK GREEN STEATITE ISLAND GEM
CIRCA MID 7TH CENTURY B.C.
The lentoid engraved on one side with a goat in profile to the left, with a linear treatment of the body and legs, the horns curving back, the knees, hooves, head and snout each a simple pellet, a hoop and dot above its back, a lightly incised figure of a goat to the left; mounted as a swivel ring in a modern gold setting
5/8 in. (2.6 cm.) wide; ring size 7

Provenance

Dawkins Collection; Sotheby's, London, 19 June 1961, lot 9.

Literature

J. Boardman, Island Gems, A Study of Greek Seals in the Geometric and Early Archaic Periods, London, 1963, no. 18.

Lot Essay

The present gem is part of a group of five seals that Boardman considered together for their exceptional technique (op. cit., p. 20): "On them simple, though sometimes deep, incision is helped out by small holes and hoops...This technique is met in Minoan seals and in the Near East, but nothing like this exact style. With the goat, and on three other seals, we find hoops with a centre dot or hole. These hoops are made with a two-pronged implement used like a compass and not with a tubular drill. This is shown by the uneven depth of the cutting in the hoop and the more deeply cut centre hole. The same technique and effect can be observed on archaic ivories, which could be the source for this technique and motif on the Island Gems."

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