This intaglio fragment from an ancient ring is set is an 18 karat gold ring The bust of the god-like male on this intaglio may be that of Apollo, deity of music, nature,  More »

This intaglio fragment from an ancient ring is set is an 18 karat gold ring The bust of the god-like male on this intaglio may be that of Apollo, deity of music, nature, medicine; or possibly a Greek King. Apollo is traditionally depicted as a manly youth of extreme beauty, with long curly black hair tinged blue, like the petals of a viola. His many love affairs included both Nymphs and mortal women. The beautiful profile is facing left, wearing a headband, which may be a diadem or wreath. Such fine engraving as this is worthy of depicting a deity, or an impressive king from Hellenistic times. - (FJ.6188)   « Less

Masks represent a collective need to explain ideas and events of the world through mimic. All cultures imitate animals, their gods, and their devils. This is a basic  More »

Masks represent a collective need to explain ideas and events of the world through mimic. All cultures imitate animals, their gods, and their devils. This is a basic solidification of primitive religion and worship. By imitating real people within the society, each culture exhibits a growth of roots within the real world. This basis of drama within reality portrays the human vocation in order to understand our common experience of living. Theater is more than just entertainment. Theater is a collabrative effort of all facets of production, both on stage and off stage, working together to create a performance event. Theatre realizes the fantasies of our dreams in order to explain the mysteries of reality and being. Masks, and to a lesser degree costumes and setting, facilitate the fantasy that theatre depends on. Without some type of physical modification, true transformation is impossible. Therefore, the theatrical mask is the basis of theater and dramatic impersonation.Greece is the traditional birthplace of modern theatre. The masses gathered together in amphitheatres carved into hillsides to watch their world and reality mimicked and mocked. However, comedies were not the only offerings, tragedies also taught moralizing lessons about life. Theatre tells us about ourselves by allowing us to critically examine how we act in real life by watching others pretend to act in a fantasy. While the entertainment factor of theatre explains its universal popularity, the thought provoking aspect of plays explains the durability and lasting value of theatre, so much so that an Ancient Greek tragedies such as Sophocles’ Oedipus is as relevant today as two thousand years ago. This ring recalls the glories of Greek theatre. The grinning mask is a clear caricature of human emotions. Such a mask facilitates the mystical transformation that turns an actor into a character. In the end, theatre, like the mask demonstrates, distills life into basic comprehensible emotions. Humor, sadness, pride, and anger; these feelings are all easily conveyed just by dawning a mask. May the joy and laughter depicted on this bronze mask fill the life of the wearer with such pleasant spirits. - (FJ.6641)   « Less

Origin: Mediterranean Circa: 300 BC to 100 BC Dimensions: 1.5" (3.8cm) high x 2.75" (7.0cm) wide Collection: Classical Antiquities Style: Classical Medium: Gold

Origin: Mediterranean Circa: 300 BC to 100 BC Dimensions: 1.5" (3.8cm) high x 2.75" (7.0cm) wide Collection: Classical Antiquities Style: Classical Medium: Gold   « Less

Glass Fish with Marvered Decoration - OS.101, Origin: Mediterranean, Circa: 700 AD to 900 AD, Dimensions: 2.50" (6.4cm) high x 1.15" (2.9cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art,  More »

Glass Fish with Marvered Decoration - OS.101, Origin: Mediterranean, Circa: 700 AD to 900 AD, Dimensions: 2.50" (6.4cm) high x 1.15" (2.9cm) wide, Collection: Islamic Art, Style: Marvered, Medium: Glass.   « Less

Origin: Mediterranean Circa: 100 BC to 300 AD Dimensions: 1" (2.5cm) high Collection: Classical Antiquities Style: Classical/Roman Medium: Bronze

Origin: Mediterranean Circa: 100 BC to 300 AD Dimensions: 1" (2.5cm) high Collection: Classical Antiquities Style: Classical/Roman Medium: Bronze   « Less

Origin: Mediterranean Circa: 300 BC to 100 BC Dimensions: 2.75" (7.0cm) high x 2.6" (6.6cm) wide Collection: Classical style: Hellenistic Medium: Gold

Origin: Mediterranean Circa: 300 BC to 100 BC Dimensions: 2.75" (7.0cm) high x 2.6" (6.6cm) wide Collection: Classical style: Hellenistic Medium: Gold   « Less

In the seventh century B.C., the manufacture of sand-core vessels was revived in large scale in Egypt and the Near East. Although the techniques and colours suggest  More »

In the seventh century B.C., the manufacture of sand-core vessels was revived in large scale in Egypt and the Near East. Although the techniques and colours suggest imitations of the New Kingdom vessels, new non-Egyptian forms were introduced to reflect the development of Greek pottery shapes.This amphoriskos has a flaring rim, a long cylindrical neck, an elongated piriform body and a knob base. It would've had two handles between the shoulder and the top of the neck, which are now missing. Yellow and white trail wounds spiral around the body and neck of the vessel.Vessels of this type were produced until the first century B.C. - (G.0240)   « Less

Origin: Eastern Mediterranean Circa: 2 nd Century BC to 1 st Century BC Dimensions: 3.5" (8.9cm) high Collection: Classical Style: Sand-Core Formed Medium: Glass

Origin: Eastern Mediterranean Circa: 2 nd Century BC to 1 st Century BC Dimensions: 3.5" (8.9cm) high Collection: Classical Style: Sand-Core Formed Medium: Glass   « Less

This amphoriskos is core formed in an ovoid shape, it stands on a pointed foot with a cylindrical neck, everted mouth and rounded rim. The vessel is decorated with opaque  More »

This amphoriskos is core formed in an ovoid shape, it stands on a pointed foot with a cylindrical neck, everted mouth and rounded rim. The vessel is decorated with opaque yellow and turquoise trailing combed into a zig-zag pattern, with horizontal lines above and below. This pattern continues gracefully draped over the shoulder. The rim is edged with turquoise trailing, and the twin handles are attached to the shoulder and neck.   « Less

Beginning in about the seventh century B.C., the manufacture of sand-core vessels was revived on a large scale. Although the techniques suggest the imitation of New Kingdom  More »

Beginning in about the seventh century B.C., the manufacture of sand-core vessels was revived on a large scale. Although the techniques suggest the imitation of New Kingdom vessels, new non-Egyptian forms were introduced which reflected the development of Greek pottery shapes.This aryballos is a miniature version of a type of storage vessel produced by the Greek potters from the sixth century B.C. onwards. The vessel has a flaring rim, a short cylindrical neck and a globular body. Two handles are attached between the neck and shoulder. terminating in knobs. Around the body, a trail of zig-zag patterns in alternating yellow and blue decorate the vessel. - (GF.0074)   « Less