Ancient Greek gold appliqué with Alexander the Great, late 4th–3rd century

An Ancient Greek gold appliqué with the head of Alexander the Great.

Hellenistic, late 4th–3rd century B.C.

Measures 2.6 x 2cm.

Weighs 1 gram.

The exquisitely rendered three quarter face is defined in repoussé with the head of Alexander the Great in the guise of Heracles. The plaques border is decorated with punch decoration, four holes, one to each corner would have fastened the fine piece of gold to the object it once adorned.

Provenance: Private English Collection.

Three comparable plaques are published in ‘Greek Gold Jewellery Of The Classical World, New York, 1994, pp.194-195, figs 127, 128 and 129’, they are dated to circa. 330-300 BC and were excavated at Great Bliznitza, Russia in 1864 and are now in the collection of the Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg.