Lot 5E
Western Europe, Neoclassical or Classical Revival, ca. early 20th century CE. This is a marvelous niello gold brooch with a central agate cameo of Athena in profile facing to the right, surrounded by a border incised with mythical hippocamp (hippocampus) and shields. The low relief bust of Athena is depicted helmeted, with a crest, and her hair cascading to her shoulder. And the perimeter contains 5 hippocamps- mythical horse-fish hybrids, and a pair of petaloid shapes or shields. The cameo is set in a circular bezel with a wire twist filigree border, and interestingly, this center setting is removable, revealing a hollow interior, intended for holding a locket of hair. The verso contains a functional pin finding and a safety clasp, that articulate smoothly, making this a fully wearable piece! Size (cameo): 0.66" Diameter (1.7 cm); (brooch setting): 1.23" Diameter (3.1 cm); niello gold quality: 34.59% to 36.18% (equivalent to 8K+) weight: 8.7 grams
The ancients, according to scholars, believed that hippocamps were the adult versions of the petite creature we now call the sea-horse. The mythical sea-horse known as the hippocamp (also spelled hippokampe, hippocampus, hippokampos) was described by Pausanias as a horse, but with the part of its body below the breast representing that of a sea monster or fish. This creature is mentioned in Homeric poems as a symbol of Poseidon (identified as Neptune by Romans). While hippocamps are often associated with Poseidon, depictions of Athena with a hippocamp helmet are used on ancient currency, such as the Syracuse (412 to 345 BCE) trias coin and the Calabria Tarentum (380 to 325 BCE) diobol.
Provenance: private East Coast collection, New York, New York, USA, acquired before 2010
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#169415
- Condition: Minor indentations to verso of brooch setting and does not affect presentation. Central cameo setting is removable to reveal interior cavity, cameo bezel is slightly loose but secure. Pin finding and clasp articulate smoothly and are fully functional, this piece is wearable!
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