Lot 21
Roman, Imperial period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. A tender vision in radiant gold, this Roman pendant presents a finely formed image of Cupid, the youthful god of love, leaning gently upon the club of Hercules. Masterfully rendered in high karat gold (96.7% or 23.2k), the scene is created in repousse relief, giving depth and dimensionality to the god's delicate pose and softly feathered wings. The imagery speaks to a classical allegory: love overpowering brute strength. Hercules, the paragon of masculine might, lends his club as a prop to the winged child Cupid - a juxtaposition of power and vulnerability that would have been well understood in Roman visual language. The pendant is framed by a twisted rope border and decorated with small granules at the cardinal points, lending texture and definition. The suspension loop is decorated with dotted punches, suggesting a careful attention to finish and wear. Size: 0.9" L x 0.5" W (2.3 cm x 1.3 cm); gold quality: 96.7% (about 23.2 karats); weight: 1.7 grams
Worn close to the heart, this piece likely served both ornamental and symbolic purposes, invoking not only divine beauty but emotional sentiment. Pendants such as this were part of personal adornment in the Roman world and may have functioned as protective amulets or declarations of romantic devotion. An exquisite relic of Roman goldwork, this pendant preserves both the technical sophistication and rich mythological imagination of the classical world.
Provenance: private Dayton, Maryland, USA collection; ex-private F. B. collection, Maryland, USA, acquired between 1990 to 2010
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#195833
- Condition: Some light surface wear commensurate with age, but, otherwise, intact and wearable with clear imagery and liberal remaining detail.
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