1991.75.77, Necklace, Greece, ca. 2nd century B.C.E., gold, glass, enamel (?)


GENERAL DESCRIPTION  
The cord-like loop-in-loop chain of this ancient Greek necklace terminates at both ends in a molded cylinder to which a separately made finial is attached. Each finial is shaped as the bridled head of a gazelle and probably held a large bead, no longer existing. A hook and eye are underneath the heads. Small punch marks indicate the animal's fur; the eyes are inlaid with white glass beads with a black dot in the center. The horns are made separately from beaded wire, the ears from sheet gold. A small circular setting on the front, originally enameled, holds the bridle, made from herringbone wire.

Necklaces of this type were generally provided with a centerpiece that formed the actual closure. In antiquity, antelopes, gazelles, and fawns were the animals most commonly associated with Eros' biga, or chariot. The harnessed gazelle-heads so commonly encountered in Greek jewelry are probably an erotic allusion.

Drawn from
  • Barbara Deppert-Lippitz, Ancient Gold Jewelry at the Dallas Museum of Art, (Dallas: Dallas Museum of Art in association with the University of Washington Press, 1996), 137-138.
  • Herbert Hoffmann and Patricia F. Davidson, Greek Gold: Jewelry from the Age of Alexander, (Mainz/Rhein: Verlag Philipp von Zabern, 1965), 135.

NOTES
updated provenance and geo x ref  in tms
added publication as a text entry

Cultures

Geography 

Process/materials

Historical periods

Individuals

Subject terms

RELATED OBJECTS 

PROVENANCE 
Until 1989: probably Collection of Dr. Athos Moretti, Switzerland [1]
1989-1991: Collection of Robert Haber, New York, New York [2]
From 1991: Dallas Museum of Art, The Eugene and Margaret McDermott Art Fund, Inc.
[1] based on existing provenance entry in TMS
[2] See printed email exchange between Andrew Oliver and Anne Bromberg, dated August 3, 2012, found in Collections Record Object file 1991.75.53

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General Description
 
The cord-like loop-in-loop chain of this ancient Greek necklace terminates at both ends in a molded cylinder to which a separately made finial is attached. Each finial is shaped as the bridled head of a gazelle and probably held a large bead, no longer existing. A hook and eye are underneath the heads. Small punch marks indicate the animal's fur; the eyes are inlaid with white glass beads with a black dot in the center. The horns are made separately from beaded wire, the ears from sheet gold. A small circular setting on the front, originally enameled, holds the bridle, made from herringbone wire.

Necklaces of this type were generally provided with a centerpiece that formed the actual closure. In antiquity, antelopes, gazelles, and fawns were the animals most commonly associated with Eros' biga, or chariot. The harnessed gazelle-heads so commonly encountered in Greek jewelry are probably an erotic allusion.

Drawn from
  • Barbara Deppert-Lippitz, Ancient Gold Jewelry at the Dallas Museum of Art, (Dallas: Dallas Museum of Art in association with the University of Washington Press, 1996), 137-138.
  • Herbert Hoffmann and Patricia F. Davidson, Greek Gold: Jewelry from the Age of Alexander, (Mainz/Rhein: Verlag Philipp von Zabern, 1965), 135.

Fun Facts

Archival Resources

Web Resources
 

Notes
updated provenance and geo x ref  in tms
added publication as a text entry

Cultures

Geography 

Process/materials

Historical periods

Individuals

Subject terms

RELATED OBJECTS 

PROVENANCE 
Until 1989: probably Collection of Dr. Athos Moretti, Switzerland [1]
1989-1991: Collection of Robert Haber, New York, New York [2]
From 1991: Dallas Museum of Art, The Eugene and Margaret McDermott Art Fund, Inc.
[1] based on existing provenance entry in TMS
[2] See printed email exchange between Andrew Oliver and Anne Bromberg, dated August 3, 2012, found in Collections Record Object file 1991.75.53

AUDIO ASSETS 

VIDEO ASSETS

rules
Apply To
Objects
number
Equals
1991.75.77
tags
#draft
#completed
%copyedited_Gail
*Classical Art
@Bowling
necklaces: AAT: 300046001
%Archived
inlays (decorations): AAT: 300256033
jewelry: AAT: 300209286
glass (material): AAT: 300010797
metalwork: AAT: 300015336
eroticism: AAT: 300249821
goldwork: AAT: 300044045
gold (metal): AAT: 300011021
metalworking: AAT: 300053946
Greece_Ancient: TGN: 7594735
ancient (style and period): AAT: 300106711
beads (pierced objects): AAT: 300234006
enamels: AAT: 300178264
Ancient Greek (culture or style): AAT: 300020072
erotes: AAT: 300404047
gazelle: AAT: 300250197
source file
object_notes_4_a-0166.xml.nores