Hellenistic Golden Laurel Hair Wreath with Rosette

Culture: Greek

Period: 4th-3rd century B.C.

Material: Gold

Dimensions: 40.3 cm long

Price: 8 000 Euro

Ref: 2624

Provenance: French private collection Dr. Alex Brunet (1946-2022).

Condition: Unrestored with minor missing parts. Even the majority of the clamps, which hold the leaf ensembles together, is still intact. With beautiful age patina.

Description: Almost completely preserved hair wreath made of hammered gold sheet in the shape of connected laurel leaves with a central rosette on which circular motifs have been artfully embossed. Always three laurel leaves are affixed with a clamp through a small perforation, five to the left and five to the right. The leaves with fine embossments on the rim and in the centre, which depict leaf veins. The ensembles are connected amongst themselves through a gold band. This gold band is on one end twisted to a loop, where the hair wreath could be closed on the back of the hair. The Greeks considered the laurel wreath to be a symbol of health and moral purification as well as atonement and was worn during cult acts, but also used in sepulchral areas. With the old inventory number CIC 357. Mounted on a black background.