The J. Paul Getty Museum has acquired a masterpiece of Hellenistic jewellery: an elaborate gold ring with a miniature gold and enamel backyard scene in a box-shaped bezel underneath a domed rock crystal cowl. Created round 150 B.C., the ring is in impeccable situation, and one of many best surviving examples of late Hellenistic field bezel rings.
The bezel is oval and outlined across the crystal cabochon with beads of gold granulation. The sizes of the bezel are adorned with finely granulated beads in a lozenge design. The bouquet options one giant gold flower with granulation beads within the heart, filigree outlined petals and extra granulation within the broad leaves beneath the blossom, filigree oak leaves and blue-green enamel accents.
Two volutes with flowers within the curled sides kind the highest of the ring hoop the place it connects to the bezel. The ring is shaped of strands of gold wire overlaid with filigree designs formed like eyes or the knobs of the membership of Herakles. The bottom of the ring contains a small garnet cabochon set on a Herakles knot with ivy leaf-shaped settings on either side that when held gems, now misplaced.
It was first printed in 1912 in a list of the ring assortment of the late Ernest Guilhou of Paris. It was offered at Sotheby’s in London in 1937, and fewer than a yr later was positioned up for motion by a Lucerne supplier. It subsequently handed by two completely different personal collections, and was offered at Christie’s in London this July by the descendant of the second collector. The pre-sale estimate was £12,000-18,000 ($15,745-23,618), however the ring’s high quality (and the Getty’s deep pockets) drove the bidding manner up. The ultimate hammer value was £100,800 ($132,260).
The Getty plans to do the primary in-depth examine of this distinctive piece.
Regardless of the ring’s intricate approach, not a lot examine has been completed on this particular sort of historical jewellery. This addition to the gathering will enhance the Museum’s potential to focus on the artistic and progressive work of historical artisans that experimented with valuable supplies and also will permit Getty to launch a collaborative analysis initiative into this explicit jewellery sort. It is going to be displayed on the Getty Villa alongside related objects.
