CIRCA 4TH CENTURY B.C.

Details

A GRECO-PERSIAN PALE BLUE CHALCEDONY SCARABOID OF A SEATED GRIFFIN
CIRCA 4TH CENTURY B.C.
1 3/16 in. (3 cm.) long

Provenance

Paul Julius Arndt (1865-1937), Munich.
Giorgio Sangiorgi (1886-1965), Rome, acquired and brought to Switzerland, late 1930s; thence by continuous descent to the current owner.

Literature

J. Boardman and C. Wagner, Masterpieces in Miniature: Engraved Gems from Prehistory to the Present, London, 2018, p. 75, no. 66.

Special notice

This lot has been imported from outside of the UK for sale and placed under the Temporary Admission regime. Import VAT is payable at 5% on the hammer price. VAT at 20% will be added to the buyer’s premium but will not be shown separately on our invoice. The USA prohibits the purchase by US persons of Iranian-origin “works of conventional craftsmanship” such as carpets, textiles, decorative objects, and scientific instruments. The US sanctions apply to US persons regardless of the location of the transaction or the shipping intentions of the US person. For this reason, Christie’s will not accept bids by US persons on this lot. Non-US persons wishing to import this lot into the USA are advised that they will need to apply for an OFAC licence and that this can take many months to be granted.

Conditions of sale

Brought to you by

Claudio Corsi Specialist, Head of Department

ccorsi@christies.com +44 (0) 20 7389 2607

Lot Essay

Engraved in the Greek Style with a seated winged griffin facing to the right on a groundline, one forepaw raised, the monster with a spiked crest and upright ears, the beak open with tongue protruding, the undulating tail extending behind. For similar griffins cf. J. Boardman, Greek Gems and Finger Rings, London, 1970, pls. 957 and 958.

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