Pair of Hellenistic gold Eros earrings
circa 3rd century BC
Drop: 1.9 cm
Provenance: Collection of Argini Benaki Salvagos, Europe, acquired 1930s and thence by descent to Stefanos Vallis.
The winged god is shown nude but for a decorative sash of granulated beads strung across his torso, holding a syrinx (pan pipes) in his upraised hand and a tympanum (hand drum) in the other, one leg advanced as if dancing; with simple wire hook fixed behind the wings. Erotes are often shown playing musical instruments like this. For example, a later Roman sarcophagus is decorated with a troupe of Erotes parodying a rite honouring Dionysus, each Eros playing a different instrument including a syrinx, aulos,lyre, and tympanum.
Condition: Intact
For a similar pair of Eros earrings, see Boston, Museum of Fine Arts acc. nos. 90.177 and 90.178. And for the sarcophagus, see British Museum acc. no. 1973,0103.15.
Described as 'one of Europe's most beautiful women, the toast of Paris in her youth', Argini Benaki Salvagos, was the grande dame of Alexandrian society in the 1930s. She was a passionate collector herself and from a dynasty of collectors. Her brother, Antony, bequeathed the family home in Athens and much of his personal collection to found the Benaki Museum in 1931.
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circa 3rd century BC
Drop: 1.9 cm
Provenance: Collection of Argini Benaki Salvagos, Europe, acquired 1930s and thence by descent to Stefanos Vallis.
The winged god is shown nude but for a decorative sash of granulated beads strung across his torso, holding a syrinx (pan pipes) in his upraised hand and a tympanum (hand drum) in the other, one leg advanced as if dancing; with simple wire hook fixed behind the wings. Erotes are often shown playing musical instruments like this. For example, a later Roman sarcophagus is decorated with a troupe of Erotes parodying a rite honouring Dionysus, each Eros playing a different instrument including a syrinx, aulos,lyre, and tympanum.
Condition: Intact
For a similar pair of Eros earrings, see Boston, Museum of Fine Arts acc. nos. 90.177 and 90.178. And for the sarcophagus, see British Museum acc. no. 1973,0103.15.
Described as 'one of Europe's most beautiful women, the toast of Paris in her youth', Argini Benaki Salvagos, was the grande dame of Alexandrian society in the 1930s. She was a passionate collector herself and from a dynasty of collectors. Her brother, Antony, bequeathed the family home in Athens and much of his personal collection to found the Benaki Museum in 1931.
Enquire
circa 3rd century BC
Drop: 1.9 cm
Provenance: Collection of Argini Benaki Salvagos, Europe, acquired 1930s and thence by descent to Stefanos Vallis.
The winged god is shown nude but for a decorative sash of granulated beads strung across his torso, holding a syrinx (pan pipes) in his upraised hand and a tympanum (hand drum) in the other, one leg advanced as if dancing; with simple wire hook fixed behind the wings. Erotes are often shown playing musical instruments like this. For example, a later Roman sarcophagus is decorated with a troupe of Erotes parodying a rite honouring Dionysus, each Eros playing a different instrument including a syrinx, aulos,lyre, and tympanum.
Condition: Intact
For a similar pair of Eros earrings, see Boston, Museum of Fine Arts acc. nos. 90.177 and 90.178. And for the sarcophagus, see British Museum acc. no. 1973,0103.15.
Described as 'one of Europe's most beautiful women, the toast of Paris in her youth', Argini Benaki Salvagos, was the grande dame of Alexandrian society in the 1930s. She was a passionate collector herself and from a dynasty of collectors. Her brother, Antony, bequeathed the family home in Athens and much of his personal collection to found the Benaki Museum in 1931.