Ancient Greece, Classical period, ca. 5th to 4th century BCE. A petite and delicate accessory formed from braided wires of 95.5% gold (equivalent to 22K+) that create a beautiful cord. Each terminal is fitted with a slightly crimped and lightly carinated gold cap bearing integral loops on top that enable the piece to be worn as a necklace or a double-wrapped bracelet. Resting off-center on the braided band is a thick carnelian pendant of a rectangular form with slanted facets on the corners of each face. Braided gold necklaces were some of the most meticulous and painstakingly created types of gold jewelry crafted by ancient Greek artisans, so surviving examples are some of our most opulent glimpses into the past. Size (necklace): 14" L (35.6 cm); (quartz pendant): 1" W x 0.55" H (2.5 cm x 1.4 cm); quality of gold: 95.5% (equivalent to 22K+); total weight: 15.7 grams.
For a stylistically similar example of a braided necklace with lion-head terminals, please see The Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 74.51.3660.
Another stylistically similar example, from the Hellenistic Period and of a slightly longer size, hammered for $15,000 at Christie's, New York "Ancient Jewelry: Wearable Art" online auction (sale 14573, November 29 - December 8, 2016, lot 27).
Provenance: ex-private London, UK collection, acquired in 2011; ex-private Swiss collection, acquired in the 1960s
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#152772
Condition
Wearable as shown. Minor repairs to roughly eight areas of gold chain, with small fissures to some strands, and light stabilization material in repaired areas. Slight bending to overall form of some braided wires, with nicks and abrasions to carnelian pendant. Nice gold luster throughout.