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Oval gem with Harpocrates
Greek
Hellenistic Period
2nd – 1st century B.C.
Medium/Technique
Carnelian
Dimensions
Length x width: 6 x 6 mm (1/4 x 1/4 in.)
Credit Line
Hay Collection—Gift of C. Granville Way
Accession Number72.850
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsJewelry, Ancient Greece and Rome
ClassificationsJewelry / Adornment – Gems
DescriptionIntaglio. Flat on both sides, with inward facet in back. Nude Harpocrates standing with body shown frontally, while turning head to right. His weight is on his left leg, and his right hip is pushed up. Right hand is raised in front of his face. In his left hand he holds a slim, stylized cornucopiae. A small vertical line and horizontal line are suggestive of a crown.
ProvenanceBy 1836: Robert Hay Collection, Linplum, Scotland; 1863: to his son, Robert James Alexander Hay; 1868-1872: Way Collection, Boston (purchased by Samuel A. Way through London dealers Rollin and Feuardent, 27 Haymarket); 1872: given to the MFA by Samuel's son, C. Granville Way.