Phoenician Gold Pendant Group

6th-5th century BC. A group of eight hollow gold beads, decorated with granulation and filigree collars. See Marshall, F.H., Catalogue of the Jewellery Greek, Etruscan & Roman in the Departments of Antiquities British Museum, Oxford, 1969, no.1456, for a necklace with similar beads. 14.29 grams total, 8-17mm (1/4 - 3/4"). Property of a gentleman from Vienna; from his private collection formed since 1970. The Phoenician or Punic necklaces were sometimes made in polychrome, with metal elements combined with semi-precious stones, amber and faience or glass grains, or composed of gold or silver beads. They often had medallions with motifs and symbols of Egyptian origin or Phoenician tradition. The hollow cylinder pendants, surmounted by depictions of the heads of sacred Egyptian animals, such as the lion, the ram and the cat, also had a magical-religious function, since their cavity was intended to contain a very thin rolled metal sheet, engraved with figures and magic formulae. [8] For this specific lot, 5% import VAT is applicable on the hammer price
Condition Report: Fine condition.