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Scaraboid gem with a dove

Greek
Classical Period
450–425 B.C.

Medium/Technique Carnelian
Dimensions Length: 17 mm (11/16 in.)
Credit Line Bartlett Collection—Museum purchase with funds from the Francis Bartlett Donation of 1912
Accession Number23.586
NOT ON VIEW

Catalogue Raisonné Lewes House Gems, no. 081 (1920; 2002, additional published references).
DescriptionIntaglio. Pierced for stringing (horizontally). Motif oriented vertically. Pigeon, carrying a scroll in its beak, flying to the left.
ProvenanceBy date unknown: Count Michel Tyszkiewicz Collection; 1898: auction of the M. Tyszkiewicz Collection, Hotel des Commissaires-Priseurs, 9 rue Drouot, Paris, June 8-10, lot 284 (said to have been found in Egypt); by date unknown: Evans Collection (according to J. D. Beazley, The Lewes House Collection of Ancient Gems, no. 81); by date unknown: with Edward Perry Warren; November 21, 1923: purchased by MFA from Edward Perry Warren for $ 32,948.27 (this figure is the total purchase price for MFA 23.576-23.594)