A GROUP OF GREEK GOLD JEWELLERY

HELLENISTIC PERIOD, CIRCA 4TH-3RD CENTURY B.C.

Details

A GROUP OF GREEK GOLD JEWELLERY
HELLENISTIC PERIOD, CIRCA 4TH-3RD CENTURY B.C.
Comprising a pair of sheet gold Eros earrings, the nude god with a wide cloak fanning out behind, holding a torch in one hand and a wreath in the other, with outstretched wings, each suspended from a disc with a central twelve-petal rosette with beaded border frame; seven sheet gold rosettes, five with central raised boss surrounded by a twisted wire border, two with attachment hooks on reverse; and a gold ring with an applied sheet gold bezel with the crouching figure of Aphrodite
Earrings: 2 in. (5.1 cm.) long
Largest rosette: 1 5/8 in. (4.3 cm.) diam.
Ring: ¾ in. (1.9 cm.) diam.

Provenance

Private collection, Rotterdam, acquired prior to 1975; and thence by descent to the present owner.

Brought to you by

Georgiana Aitken

gaitken@christies.com +44 (0)20 7752 3002

Lot Essay

This type of earring, showing either a winged Eros or Nike, is well-known in the Hellenistic world from Italy to Asia Minor; see F. H. Marshall, Catalogue of the Jewellery, Greek, Etruscan and Roman, The British Museum, London, 1969, p. 200, pl. XXXII.

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