A very rare viking gold ring with triangle decoration.
Material:Gold and Silver,58 parts Gold,30 parts Silver 12 parts Copper Measure: inner diameter 20 mms Weight: 18,03 grms Culture:Viking Date: 800- 1100 A.D.
NEO-ASSYRIAN CYLINDER SEAL
A GENIUS FIGHTING WITH SOME FANTASY LION MAN.
A microscopical view shows scratches of wear with earthen encrustations and mineral deposits. Although the crystal is so clear,the sinter speaks for it`s genuinity.
Simple egyptian gold hoop earrings. Oval shape,the other one more round,both with reddish gold sinter on it. They are unlike roman earrings full metal,as canaanite ones dating from the same time too.
In ancient Egypt men as women wore earrings,specially Nubians. It was a form of proto money,it could quickly be used when a deal has to be done. Nearly all men in the Middle East wore earrings,Israelites were famous for their gold earrings,unfortunatly this custom has been lost through history.
Material:Gold Measure: round one 23 mm,oval one 24 mms Weight: round 1.96 grms,oval 1.85 grms Culture:Egypt Date: 1400-1200 B.C.
HYKSOS FINGERRING
Another rare item is this almond shape seal ring from the Hyksos period. A Lion is facing a winged beast on two feet.The seal is worn down but still nice design.
On the left is a beast with tail upright,on the right side is another creature lion-like.
Larger size ring with a rather slim hoop.Heavy green patina.
Material:Copper Measure:inner diameter 19mms,bezel 20 / 11 mms Weight:6.35 grms Origin:Egypt,from a US Museum Culture:Egypt Date: 1648-1540 B.C.,15. Dynasty
ASSYRIAN PINE CONE EARRINGS
The only known pair I came across,it took me eleven years to find them!Im grateful to Bron David,London. This pair was forgotten in a box for 35 years.They were purchased by a British soldier who was stationed in Syria during World War II. Attached to a long hook is a hollow gold body in a pine cone shape,chevron like granulated downwards,lamellas ending in a ball-tip.The granulation is abraised due to wear,e.g. this pair belonged to a noble assyrian from the court as only court members and priests were allowed to wear gold. King Assur Nasir-Pal is wearing such a pair on a relief.
The Man-Bull Lamassu:
This huge guardians were standing in front of assyrian palaces,to protect them against evil spirits. Lamassu has the body of a bull with five legs,wings and a bearded head with the crown of the gods on his head. See the nice details,and exactly that type of earring.
Clearly visible is the desert patina between the single gold granulation.
This large example is an ultra rare assyrian pine cone earring with an inset stone. It is little damaged but all original.The top is decorated with an agate.It has the same chevron pattern as my other pair of earrings in my collection. They might originate from the same atelier even as they are worked the same.
A look under the microscope :darker glossy spots on the heels of the stone and in the pits of the gold indicate that this piece has been glued.
It is the first example and unique with an inset stone.I just know them from the assyrian wall reliefs. There is the same desert patina as clearly visible on the first photo.I suppose they originate also from Syria.
Material:Agate ,Gold 71% Ar 28% Cu 2.8% Measure: 78 mms long Weight: 5.64 grms Culture:Assyria Date: 900- 610 B.C.
SALOMONIC EARRINGS
From the same soldier who obtained the assyrian earrings was this pair of electron earrings.Sternberg dated such examples as salomonic,I guess they are from the middle assyrian period. Under the large hoop is a cage soldered,the eye is decorated in three lines,the attachment is divided in four rolls.The base of the cage is decorated with crude granulation balls.Under the base are seven globuli towers,worn down a bit.One tip is missing,otherwise they are in a nice condition.
a close view of the cage like tip: clearly visible is the crude granulation,the tips of seven towers,each is granulated by three rows of smaller gold balls.Compare the fake section to see the difference of machine made globulis! In the pits is still desert patina.
A very rare example of earrings from Minoa,with a typical bull`s head attachment. The pair is worked different,one has a hanging cone while the other one has a soldered one. Although they are different,they originate from the same atelier.The hoop ends in a thinner twisted gold wire at the top.The cones end in a large single gold ball,all around the cone is decorated with a pseudo-granulation,a chisel or a similar tool was used to achieve this pattern.
Close up of the tip: Clearly visible in the pits is dark sinter,and the chiselled cone.
A perfect work is this three layered Sardonyx Cameo,depicting the main god Jupiter. Head to left,with headband and impressive nose.Inside the carved curls is some sinter.The bezel is slightly deformed,otherwise the ring is intact.The band is made of twisted gold wire,ending in two gold beads. Reddish sinter on the gold bezel indicating rotten organic material.
Microscope view:
clearly visible is the original sinter.The work was conducted carefully,no modern machine or tool marks can be found. Also the gold bezel was never opened,the stone is 100% original.
Close up of the head:this is a microscope view from the top of the head.Left a black spot,it is a rotten organic material.More up some greenish spots.They are sinter and go from the gold rim through to the gem stone, e.g. the stone was never replaced.It is original as it comes from the earth since 2000 years!!
Close up: a close look at the eyes of Jupiter,you can see the carving technique and still sinter on the Sardonyx.It is a three layered stone,worked in four nice colours.
Material:Gold and a four coloured Sardonyx,Gold 98% Fe 1%, Cu 1 % Measure: Bezel 23 / 19 mms,Ring inner diameter 23 / 19 mms Weight: 7.45 grms Origin:Alexandria Culture:Ptolemaic-Roman Date: 200 B.C. - 100 A.D.
SAMARITAN RING
Octagonal Samaritan ring,with writing around. The Samaritans are mentioned in the Bible,they splitted from the Jews and made their temple on Mount Gerizim,where they still pray today. This little rings served as amulets or wedding rings. Writing on it:"there is no like god Ishurun (Israel)."
A huge seized Viking fingerring in Silver. The ring is decorated with punched pattern,triangles with dots inside. Inside is reddish sinter with earthen encrustations. The ring bottom is thinner than the top. Ring shows some wear. The Vikings traded a lot with Arabs,from their Dirhams they minted their jewellery as this ring.
Detail of the punched pattern,reddish sinter and earthen highlights. The ring contains 900 %° Silver 9% Copper and 0.7% Iron,that`s why there was some reddish sinter on it.
Material: Silver Measure:inner diameter 21 mms,a US 11 1/4 Weight: 10.72 grms Culture:Viking Date: 900-1100 A.D.
NEO-ASSYRIAN EARRINGS
Earrings with Lotus buds endings,made from gold with heavy copper traces. Simple solid round hoops ending in a cannelled flower-bud,twisted around is a gold wire decoration. Inside desert sinter. This type is often depicted on assyrian wall reliefs.
Mostly assyrian earrings didn`t made it till our day,they disappeared or were melted,mostly with Assyria`s decline.
antique gold smiths were experts on their work!
A close look at the gold wire decoration,still with desert patina.
The Labaratory analysis reveals a high grade gold containt of gold,80%,the rest is copper.
A very rare seal ring is this silver ring. The impression shows the warrior goddess Ishtar walking right,holding weapons in her hand. Ring is executed in the drill style typically seen on neo -babylonian and neo-assyrian cylinder seals. This makes this ring unique,mostly Babylonians favoured to wear seals around their wrist rather than finger rings.
A sturdy and very heavy bronze bracelet with Lion heads terminals,facing each other.
Some photos from assyrian bracelets.The bigger one is in the Louvre Museum and is 13 cms wide . Bronze was a very expensive item in antiquity and this bracelet could have afforded only a wealthy person. Courtiers,Nobles and Kings wear them on the wall reliefs.
Modern silver was only available since the silver mines in Potosi were opened and Spain exported silver to Europe. In antiquity,silver mines were rare and the material was not affordable for everyone.
In the holes visible sinter,the bangle was worn at lifetime,as all the decorations are worn down. The X-Ray spectrum analysis revealed the following metals: Ag 73% Cu 25,5% Pb 0,3% Zn 1,2%
A simple gold ring with an amethyst stone inset. The Greeks believed that the stone could prevent from intoxication due to it`s colour resembling wine,as they mixed the wine with water,it had the same colour as amethyst. Also the wearer was cool headed by the protection of Amethyst.
Material:Gold and Amethyst,91% Gold,7% Ar , 1% Cu Size: 21 mms Weight: 3.36 grms Culture:Roman Date: 0-100 A.D.
Huge Roman Silver Ring
A heavy silver ring with a full metal intaglio,with an engraved emperor looking to the left. The ring is covered with a thick dark patina.
The portrait resembles the emperor Pertinax with his typically long beard.
The Microscop photo shows a layer of patina and encrustation. As the ring consists mostly of silver(80%) and copper(20%) there are some green patina crystals due to the copper inside the metal.
Metal: Silver 80% and Copper 20% Size: inside 20 mms,Intaglio 14 mms,31 mms wide Weight: 19.43 grms Origin:Austrian collection Culture: Roman Date: 150 - 250 A.D.
Material:Gold and Silver,58 parts Gold,30 parts Silver 12 parts Copper
A GENIUS FIGHTING WITH SOME FANTASY LION MAN.
A microscopical view shows scratches of wear with earthen encrustations and mineral deposits.
Material:Crystal
Simple egyptian gold hoop earrings.
In ancient Egypt men as women wore earrings,specially Nubians.
Material:Gold
Another rare item is this almond shape seal ring from the Hyksos period.
On the left is a beast with tail upright,on the right side is another creature lion-like.
Larger size ring with a rather slim hoop.Heavy green patina.
The only known pair I came across,it took me eleven years to find them!Im grateful to Bron David,London.
The Man-Bull Lamassu:
Clearly visible is the desert patina between the single gold granulation.
A look under the microscope :darker glossy spots on the heels of the stone and in the pits of the gold indicate that this piece has been glued.
From the same soldier who obtained the assyrian earrings was this pair of electron earrings.Sternberg dated such examples as salomonic,I guess they are from the middle assyrian period.
a close view of the cage like tip:
A very rare example of earrings from Minoa,with a typical bull`s head attachment.
A perfect work is this three layered Sardonyx Cameo,depicting the main god Jupiter.
Microscope view:
Close up: a close look at the eyes of Jupiter,you can see the carving technique and still sinter on the Sardonyx.It is a three layered stone,worked in four nice colours.
Octagonal Samaritan ring,with writing around.
Spalte 2
Detail of the punched pattern,reddish sinter and earthen highlights.
Earrings with Lotus buds endings,made from gold with heavy copper traces.
Mostly assyrian earrings didn`t made it till our day,they disappeared or were melted,mostly with Assyria`s decline.
antique gold smiths were experts on their work!
A close look at the gold wire decoration,still with desert patina.
The Labaratory analysis reveals a high grade gold containt of gold,80%,the rest is copper.
NEO-BABYLONIAN SEAL RING
A very rare seal ring is this silver ring.
Material:Silver
A sturdy and very heavy bronze bracelet with Lion heads terminals,facing each other.
Some photos from assyrian bracelets.The bigger one is in the Louvre Museum and is 13 cms wide .
Material:Bronze
Modern silver was only available since the silver mines in Potosi were opened and Spain exported silver to Europe.
In the holes visible sinter,the bangle was worn at lifetime,as all the decorations are worn down.
A simple gold ring with an amethyst stone inset.
Material:Gold and Amethyst,91% Gold,7% Ar , 1% Cu
A heavy silver ring with a full metal intaglio,with an engraved emperor looking to the left.
The portrait resembles the emperor Pertinax with his typically long beard.
The Microscop photo shows a layer of patina and encrustation.