J3

Greek gold funerary rings

A pair of very fine quality sheet gold rings consisting of flat wire-work and repousse bands mounted with floral appliqués.

The delicate nature of these rings would suggest that they were probably made for funerary purposes as they would be too fragile for actual use.

Greek, c. 4th Century BC, possibly from Cyprus.

Both pieces are very delicate; the larger example is cracked on the band where it has been compressed, the smaller is in very good condition except that the floral centre-piece has partially detached. The wire used to attached the appliques to the bands is rather crude and made from a different colour metal suggesting that they may be early 20th Century additions, the two components of each ring may well have been stitched with linen thread in antiquity.

Size: 2.5 x 1 cms and 1.8 x 1 cms

Ex. private collection, Sussex, UK; acquired early 20th Century (probably in Cyprus).