A PAIR OF ROMAN GOLD AND SARDONYX GORGONEIA CAMEO BRACELETS
PROPERTY FROM A DISTINGUISHED NEW YORK CITY COLLECTION
A PAIR OF ROMAN GOLD AND SARDONYX GORGONEION CAMEO BRACELETS

CIRCA 3RD CENTURY A.D.

Details
A PAIR OF ROMAN GOLD AND SARDONYX GORGONEION CAMEO BRACELETS
CIRCA 3RD CENTURY A.D.
2 ¾ in. (6.9 cm.) wide (larger)
Provenance
Antiquities, Sotheby’s, London, 14 December 1995, lot 237.
Private Collection, New York, acquired from the above; thence by descent to the current owner.

Brought to you by

Hannah Fox Solomon
Hannah Fox Solomon Head of Department, Specialist

Lot Essay

Each cameo in this spectacular pair of gold bracelets depicts the monster Medusa frontally with a slight incline to her right. Her face is framed by serpentine locks with wings emerging at her forehead. Each cameo is set within a circular box, secured by a saw-tooth bezel, and enclosed by a band of convex, curving rays bordered by beaded wire. The box is joined to the spiral-fluted hollow hoop by means of hinged loops.

The Gorgoneion – a mask of Medusa – was typically carved using the two layers of onyx, as observed here, and was the most popular subject for cameos during the Roman Imperial period. A ring, brooch or bracelet set with a Gorgoneion was apotropaic, providing the wearer with the power to deflect the Evil Eye. For a discussion of the type see pp. 183-192 in M. Henig and H. Molesworth, The Complete Content Cameos.

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