A large greek hellenistic red jasper intaglio. Bust of Athena.

3rd century B.C.

A large greek hellenistic red jasper intaglio. Bust of Athena.

3rd century B.C.

25x31x6 mm

The deity is facing left. The head is helmeted while the bust is covered by the gorgoneion, with hte mask of Medusa in the center, due to its apotropaic power and invincibility; small snakes rise from the mythical breastplate. The shoulder is naked. The hair falls elegantly on the neck, engraved with very thin and refined lines. Other details of the helmet (crest) and of the anatomy (eyes, brow line) are also engraved with very fine lines. The work, of great artistic importance, is engraved on an extraordinarily large red jasper. The black line that runs horizontally through the stone is not a crack but a black inclusion (vein), typical of the jasper. The back of the gem shows engraved unfinished marks with the dry diamond point of an ornamental motif (vegetable or floral). This unfinished but just begun processing trace is an equally extraordinary testimony of to the greek engraving technique during the Hellenistic Era. Slight signs of wear and small chips on the edge. Parallel: for the subject in AGDS, tafel 189 n. 2182. For a close type, but engraved later (1st B.C. - 1st A.D.) see AGKM (Kunst, Wien) n. 1069.

Provenance: english private collection, ex London art market 1970 circa; from the R.T. collection, London.