Ancient Greece, Hellenistic, ca. late 4th to 3rd century BCE; Northern Europe, Neoclassical period, ca. 18th to early 19th century CE. A beautiful Hellenistic gold brooch set with a Neoclassical carnelian intaglio of ovoid form. Boasting a hue of translucent pink with maroon inclusions, the lovely intaglio displays the incised image of a woman standing in contrapposto facing right, draped in the billowing folds of a knee-length robe as she extends her left arm at the elbow to hold a petite bird and rests her right arm on a baluster. A spear lays diagonally behind her creating a dynamic composition. Slender triangles of gold foil line the periphery of the intaglio, nicely contrasting the red of the stone, while the thick border of the brooch is adorned with an applied, undulating gold wire surrounded by a braided gold motif. Size (brooch): 1.4" W x 1.8" H (3.6 cm x 4.6 cm); (intaglio): 0.9" W x 1.3" H (2.3 cm x 3.3 cm); gold quality: 90% (equivalent to 21K+); total weight: 11.3 grams

A pin and hook are featured on the verso, allowing the brooch to have once been worn on the clothing of ancient Greek nobility.

Provenance: East Coast collection, New York Gallery, New York City, New York, USA, acquired before 2010

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#159450

Gold brooch is ancient, while carnelian intaglio is from the Neoclassical period. Wearable though wear is not recommended. Top of gold border reattached with some miniscule losses along break lines. Tear with loss to gold border and pair of perforations near bottom. Otherwise, excellent with nice preservation of detail.