Ancient Susanian Carved Agate Head Intaglio Bead

An ancient Persian Sasanian Empire hand carved Emerald intaglio bead seal. Carved Gemstones, Ancient Artifacts and Historical Memorabilia For Collector...

A vintage Chinese sterling silver link bracelet. The hinged links have a filigree design with enameled accents and large central agate cabochons. Hallmark China Sterling is on the box clasp. Total Weight: 48 grams. Chinese Silverware...

A vintage 22K gold amulet pendant adorned with an ancient Egyptian faience god figure. Mounted on a finely carved lapis lazuli piece and encased within a luxurious golden frame, ever...

A vintage Chinese sterling silver rolo chain necklace with filigree flowers and large agate cabochons. Hieroglyphical hallmark is on the bac...

Astonishing and gorgeous brown agate stud earrings. Carved woman face that evokes the italian handmade traditional jewelry work. This delicate design shows the sweetness and innocen...

An Etruscan Amber Head Pendant. Etruria, circa 5th century B.C. Measurements 5.1 × 3.6 × 2.4 cm. 9cm high on its bronze display stand. Provenance Anonymous sale; Sotheby’s L...

A very unusual antique gold ring set with a carved brown and white hardstone cameo depicting the theatrical comic mask of Silenus, the Greek mythological old rustic god of wine-making and drunkenness. The ring was made in the late 19th century and carries French control marks for 18K gold, whilst the cameo is probably Italian and made slightly earlier, circa 1800. Silenus was a companion to the wine god Dionysus, and suitably he was a notorious consumer of wine, usually drunk and supported by satyrs or carried by a donkey. Silenus was described as the oldest, wisest and most drunken of the followers of Dionysus, and was said to possess special knowledge and the power of prophecy when intoxicated. He presides over the other satyrs and is related to musical creativity, prophetic ecstasy, drunken joy and drunken dances. Silenus was usually depicted as a jovial old man, bald yet bearded, with a pot-belly, thick lips and snub-nose. The masks worn to play him in theatre really emphasised these features, as you can see with this cameo carving Theatre was a key part of ancient Greek culture. The theatrical masks worn by the actors, known as ‘prosopon’, served various purposes. They enabled individual actors to play multiple roles (or genders) in the same performance; the exaggerated expressions helped define the character being portrayed; they helped spectators in the back rows to tell the characters apart. This particular masked as mentioned before is a comedic Silenus, please see final photo for other examples of Silenus masks in museum collections. UK size N 1/2, US size 7 4.84g 18K gold French ‘tête...

This unusual carving in the shape of a beetle was carved out of one piece of labradorite in the 1920's ca. The beetle has been drilled from top to bottom and is intended to be used i...