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Oval gem with Kassandra kneeling at Palladion
Greek
Late Hellenistic Period
late 1st century B.C.
Medium/Technique
Carnelian
Dimensions
Length (without setting): 21 mm (13/16 in.)
Credit Line
Bartlett Collection—Museum purchase with funds from the Francis Bartlett Donation of 1912
Accession Number27.713
CollectionsJewelry, Ancient Greece and Rome
ClassificationsJewelry / Adornment – Gems
Catalogue Raisonné
Lewes House Gems, no. 093 (1920; 2002, additional published references).
DescriptionIntaglio. Image carved on convex side. Set in modern gold bezel and loop ring. Kassandra, nude except for a garment draped over her right thigh and upper arm, kneels before a statuette of armed Athena (the Trojan Palladion). She bows her head and holds a branch in her left hand, while clasping the image of Athena with her right. Her hair flows down her neck and shoulders in waves; she wears a laurel wreath. Her torso is rendered in three-quarters view, while the head and legs are in profile. The statuette of Athena stands with one leg forward, wearing a long, belted garment (chiton) and a crested helmet. She holds a spear across her left shoulder; and on her right arm, a shield decorated with a gorgon's head. The statue is placed upon a rectangular pedestal, atop a separate plinth. Motif situated on a ground line.
ProvenanceBy 1908: with Edward Perry Warren (according to J. D. Beazley, The Lewes House Collection of Ancient Gems, no. 93: Found at Chalkis in Euboea. Bought from Lambros in 1908.); April 5, 1926: loaned to MFA by Edward Perry Warren (as 67.26); November 17, 1927: purchased by MFA from Edward Perry Warren for $ 161,000.00 (this figure is the total price for MFA 27.647-27.761)