CIRCA LATE 5TH-4TH CENTURY B.C.

Details

A GRECO-PERSIAN CARNELIAN LION GEM
CIRCA LATE 5TH-4TH CENTURY B.C.
The lion reclining on a plinth with his head turned to his right, resting on his forepaws, a radiating hatched mane framing his face, chevron at the top of the head; the underside engraved with a Persian woman standing in profile, wearing a long loose-sleeved garment, her hair arranged in a long braid with a triple-knobbed terminal, holding an ointment jar in one hand, the lid and a dipper in the other, on a short groundline
11/16 in. (1.7 cm.) long

Provenance

Acquired prior to 1972.

Brought to you by

G. Max Bernheimer

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mbernheimer@christies.com +1 212 636 2245

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Lot Essay

For the subject on the underside compare the "Greek Style" Greco-Persian chalcedony scaraboid from Megalopolis, now in Berlin, pl. 854, in Boardman, Greek Gems and Finger Rings. For lion gems see Boardman, op. cit., p. 205. Lion gems are usually cut from carnelian, with their undersides bearing purely Greek devices, while some are lacking intaglios and were worn as ornamental rings.

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