Greek Hellenistic Gold Hoop Earring w/ Eros & Granules
Ancient Greece, late Hellenistic Period, ca. 1st century BCE. A beautiful earring of annular form with an ear wire and sheet-foil figure shaped from 83.8% gold (equivalent to 20K+). Glinting with lustrous golden yellow hues, the front of the accessory presents a figure of Eros, the winged god of love, with his chest protruding and legs swept back as if in mid-flight. Eros holds both sinuous arms back to his waist so as to stabilize his body in the air, and gold granules line his body while a thin vine creeps over his left shoulder. His visage presents with almond-shaped eyes, full cheeks and lips, and a centrally parted, shoulder-length coiffure that imbues him with a youthful presentation. The tip of the ear wire rests within a circular pin clasp to not poke the wearer when being worn. A fabulous example of opulent jewelry from Hellenistic Greece! Size: 1" L x 0.28" W x 0.94" H (2.5 cm x 0.7 cm x 2.4 cm); gold quality: 83.8% (equivalent to 20K+); total weight: 2 grams
Cf. an example with a twisted ear wire at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 74.51.3504
Provenance: East Coast collection, New York Gallery, New York City, New York, USA, acquired before 2010
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#142751
Condition Report: Proper right arm reattached at shoulder, with restoration to proper left arm, and losses to wings as shown. Loss to stone inlay in serrated bezel above figure's head. Ear wire reattached at top just above serrated bezel, with break line visible on verso. Slight bending to figure, ear wire, and pin catch, with light encrustations in some recessed areas, and softening to some finer figural details. Wonderful patina throughout, and nice preservation to facial details. Not recommended for wear, though a professional jeweler could install a modern ear wire for wearability.
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Ancient Greece, late Hellenistic Period, ca. 1st century BCE. A beautiful earring of annular form with an ear wire and sheet-foil figure shaped from 83.8% gold (equivalent to 20K+). Glinting with lustrous golden yellow hues, the front of the accessory presents a figure of Eros, the winged god of love, with his chest protruding and legs swept back as if in mid-flight. Eros holds both sinuous arms back to his waist so as to stabilize his body in the air, and gold granules line his body while a thin vine creeps over his left shoulder. His visage presents with almond-shaped eyes, full cheeks and lips, and a centrally parted, shoulder-length coiffure that imbues him with a youthful presentation. The tip of the ear wire rests within a circular pin clasp to not poke the wearer when being worn. A fabulous example of opulent jewelry from Hellenistic Greece! Size: 1" L x 0.28" W x 0.94" H (2.5 cm x 0.7 cm x 2.4 cm); gold quality: 83.8% (equivalent to 20K+); total weight: 2 grams
Cf. an example with a twisted ear wire at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 74.51.3504
Provenance: East Coast collection, New York Gallery, New York City, New York, USA, acquired before 2010
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#142751
Condition Report: Proper right arm reattached at shoulder, with restoration to proper left arm, and losses to wings as shown. Loss to stone inlay in serrated bezel above figure's head. Ear wire reattached at top just above serrated bezel, with break line visible on verso. Slight bending to figure, ear wire, and pin catch, with light encrustations in some recessed areas, and softening to some finer figural details. Wonderful patina throughout, and nice preservation to facial details. Not recommended for wear, though a professional jeweler could install a modern ear wire for wearability.
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