Eastern Greek Electrum and Lapis Lazuli Pendant
Eastern Greek Electrum and Lapis Lazuli Pendant
Eastern Greek Electrum and Lapis Lazuli Pendant
Eastern Greek Electrum and Lapis Lazuli Pendant

Eastern Greek Electrum and Lapis Lazuli Pendant

£ 650.00

A finely modelled Eastern Greek Hellenistic delicate electrum and lapis lazuli miniature pendant of an amphora. The pendant features a round body, composed of two hemispherical lapis lazuli beads interspersed with a disk bead carved out of bone and a small pale orange carnelian bead at the bottom. An electrum pin with a conical finial keeps the stone beads in place, along with a socket finely modelled into a multi-petal motif from a sheet of electrum to the top. Handles modelled into an S shape connect a ribbed hoop to the socket. A pin twisted in a loop for attachment to the top. The pendant might have originally been part of an earring: earrings with amphorae pendants have been largely recovered from Greek and roman territories. Weight: 2.55 g.

Date: Circa 4th-3rd Century BC
Provenance: From an important collection of a Japanese gentlemen, deceased, 1970-2015.
Condition: Fine, the electrum socket is damaged on one side. The item is suitable for modern wear with care.

SOLD

Product Code: GS-66
Categories: , Tag:

As in many ancient societies, jewellery was an important social marker used to demonstrate wealth and richness. In Ancient Greek culture, jewellery was worn in everyday life but was also buried with the deceased as part of their funerary outfit. Jewellery might have been enriched by precious and semi-precious stones, such as the case of lapis lazuli for this quaint amphora pendant, and decorative motives would have included popular myths, gods, goddesses, and heroes. Lapis lazuli was highly regarded in antiquity and the first use of this beautiful, vibrant rich blue stone dates back to the Neolithic, when it was first mined in Afghanistan and exported to the Mediterranean area and South Asia. Jewellery such as this beautiful miniature pendant was crafted and intended for everyday use, instead of being destined exclusively to a funerary purpose.

To discover more about jewellery in the Ancient World, please visit our relevant post: Jewellery in Antiquity.
Dimensions L 2.7 cm
Semi-Precious Stone

Carnelian, Lapis Lazuli
Region

Near East (Western Asiatic), Southern Europe
Metal

Electrum

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