The Chalcidian helmet, dated to 5th century B.C., strikes a balance between warfare and beauty. But multicolored jasper like this is a rare fine among such jewelry, making this a gem in both material and craftmanship. This scaraboid, dated to the 4th century, shows an extremely detailed Perseus approaching Medusa on a 3cm long “canvas.” Engraved gems like this were common in ancient Greece and Rome.īuyers normally engraved them with their favorite philosophers or figures on amethyst, agate, or jasper stones. This niche technique makes the above figure stand out as a uniquely stylistic gem of its time.Ī Greek Mottled Red Jasper Scaraboid With Perseusįrom the collection of Rome’s antiquities Dealer Giorgio Sangiorgi (1886-1965) comes this miniature masterpiece. The above figure of a horse is slightly modified, showing an arch within the limbs to create an elongated appearance. Artists would craft bull and deer statues with “limbs” extending from their necks into a circular shape. Although the geometric art style mainly appeared in vases, sculptures followed suit. This figure is a strong representation of Greece’s Geometric period (circa 8th century B.C.). In 2016, this helmet was on display with the Kallos Gallery at Frieze Masters.Ī Greek Geometric Bronze Figure of a Horse Part of it portrays Perseus presenting Medusa’s decapitated head to Athena. The drawings (pictured right above) reveal the details of what they would have looked like before damage. It’s one of two Cretan helmets with the topping hook, but unlike its counterpart, this one contains mythological illustrations. Soldiers had to buy their own body armor, and some couldn’t afford more than linen-This makes cuirasses stand out as one of the rarer artifacts of Greek armor.ĭated to 650-620 B.C., this helmet is the highest quality of its kind. The above sample, despite some cracks, is very well preserved compared to many models which have oxidized. The bronze, “nude” style of these pieces made soldiers look like they glowed to enemies from a distance. The cuirass, or breastplate, was an essential piece for the upper-class hoplite (Greek city-state soldiers). Note the two holes on its forehead- This damage was done in battle, making this an authentic relic of the past. You can distinguish it from other Greek head pieces by its wide nose plate and eyebrow details. This one is specifically made for Apulia, a part of Italy that was colonized by the Greeks. helmet is in the Corinthian style, the most iconic of Greek helmets. Although it shows signs of damage and restoration, it’s in good enough condition to serve as an example of one of the most well-recorded vase artists’ styles. This is no exception, portraying men playing flutes on one side. Most of his work portrayed scenes of festivities, such as symposia, or post-meal banquets. This specific vase is dated to 435-425 B.C. This is the work of the Kleophon Painter, an Athenian vase artist who was very active during the Classical period (circa 5-4th century B.C.). An Attic Red-figured Stamnos, attributed to the Kleophon Painter

Hoplite shield artifact