Cameo pendant
300-100 B.C.
Medium
Decorative Arts-Jewelry
Classification
Decorative Arts-Jewelry
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of John Gellatly
Accession Number
1929.8.152.1
Tags
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection this exquisite *Cameo Pendant* dates to the Hellenistic period (300-100 B.C.), a time when Greek art flourished with dynamic realism and intricate craftsmanship following Alexander the Great's conquest. Crafted by an unidentified artist, this piece of decorative jewelry exemplifies the artistry of ancient personal adornments, gifted to the museum by collector John Gellatly.orn as a pendant, it would have served both as a fashionable accessory and a talisman reflecting the wearer's status and cultural affinities. The cameo technique—c...
About the Artist
Unidentified ( ) · –