gems, antique gems, antique jewelry, engraved gems, glyptic

A detailed archaeological and technical study of a group of Tarentine gold jewelry in the Berlin Antikensammlung, associated with a deposit dated to about 275 BC. Formigli and Heilmeyer examine the objects both as products of Hellenistic South Italian goldsmithing and as evidence for ancient workshop practice. Particular attention is given to construction and decorative techniques, including the fabrication and joining of individual components and the use of filigree, granulation and other methods of goldworking. Stylistic and iconographic analysis places the pieces within the broader development of Tarentine jewelry and considers their dating and archaeological context. The close integration of technical examination with art-historical analysis makes the volume especially useful for understanding how elaborate Hellenistic gold ornaments were manufactured. The book is extensively illustrated, with 69 figures and one color plate.