Description:

Greco-Persian, ca. 700 to 500 BCE. A mesmerizing 96.5% silver plaque featuring a griffin seated in profile and clawing at a serpent, all delineated via repousse, with incised flowers in the field. The griffin's fierce visage presents with horns, an open eye, a curved beak, grand wings with feathery plumage, and a leonine body with a long tail curled at the end. The scene is 'framed' by an engraved egg and dart motif with a leaf-motif adorning the upper corners followed by a raised, rope-patterned border. There are perforations at each corner of the piece for attachment. Size: 2.4" W x 2.2" H (6.1 cm x 5.6 cm); quality of silver: 96.5%; weight: 21.2 grams.

The griffin, half eagle and half lion, was a fierce symbol of divine power. The tradition of featuring griffins in ancient art was long lasting. In fact, we know of examples from ancient Egypt that are from ca. 3000 BCE - and the griffin continued to appear in classically-inspired art of the Renaissance, Baroque, and Neoclassical periods.

Provenance: private Orange County, California, USA collection acquired before 2000

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#157424

  • Condition: Expected surface wear commensurate with age, but imagery is still strong. Silver has developed a warm age patina.

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September 3, 2020 10:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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