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Necklace with pendant Eros

Greek
Hellenistic Period
late 4th–first half of 3rd century B.C.
Findspot: Greece, Euboia, Eretria, Tomb of the Erotes

Medium/Technique Gold and garnet
Dimensions Length of necklace: 32 cm. (12 5/8 in.) Height of Eros: 2 cm. (13/16 in.)
Credit Line Henry Lillie Pierce Fund
Accession Number98.794
NOT ON VIEW

DescriptionThe necklace is a link-in-link chain that alternates gold with carved garnet links. Part of its original length has apparently been lost, and there are some repairs. The clasp is a solid-cast gold figure of Eros, suspended from a capsule-set element, now missing, probably a long garnet bead. When the necklace was fastened, the Eros sat on a cylindrical gold base, minutely cut out to form an openwork design of addorsed protomes of winged and horned lions, which was the finial at the other end of the chain. Two parallel loops under the Eros join one atop the cylindrical base; the gold pin holding them together has been permanently bent into place, perhaps for burial.
(description from The Search For Alexander, cat. 91)

Objects in the MFA from the Tomb of the Erotes include 97.290-97.345, 98.790-98.794, 98.798, 98.893, 99.438, and 21.1213.
ProvenanceBy date unknown: with Edward Perry Warren (according to Warren's records: From Erotes tomb [at Eretria].); 1898: purchased by MFA from Edward Perry Warren for $ 69,618.13 (this figure is the total price for MFA 98.641-98.940)