Jeffrey Spier Knihy

An illuminating study of Persia's interactions and exchange of influences with ancient Greece and the Roman Empire. číst celé

Throughout the Middle Ages, Roman gems and cameos were highly valued as intrinsically precious objects or even as possessing magical properties. During the Renaissance, large collections of gems were formed by aristocratic collectors who sought inspiration from the classical images engraved on them, and gems have been collected for similar reasons ever since. With the exception of a few dedicated antiquaries, however, collectors and scholars over the last five hundred years or so have generally ignored late antique and early Christian gems. This study presents more than 1000 gems from different collections, more than 300 of them unpublished so far. They are presented according to different genres, themes, material and place or time of production. The catalogue is completed by about 1300 illustrations.

The Yevdayev Collection features 59 remarkable ancient rings from Egypt, Phoenicia, Persia, Greece, Etruria, and Rome, spanning from the second millennium BC to the fourth century AD. These rings, primarily crafted from gold or silver and often adorned with gems, showcase a variety of shapes and materials, including semiprecious stones, amber, and shell. The collection opens with four Egyptian rings from the New Kingdom, including an amethyst scarab in a gold swivel-ring and a cornelian ring bearing the cartouche of Pharaoh Thutmose III. It also includes rare Hittite and Persian rings. Phoenician examples from the seventh to fifth century BC consist of gold and stone scarabs. Unique pieces include Achaemenid and Sasanian Persian rings, a distinctive diamond ring likely from the Kushan period, and a Scythian-style Central Asian ring. Greek and Roman rings are well-represented, with Classical Greek examples featuring engraved bezels and Hellenistic rings often set with large gems. Roman rings, dating from Augustus to the fourth century AD, include finely engraved gems and rare materials like rock crystal and amber. The collection is notable for its exceptional design, craftsmanship, and rich imagery, appealing to students of ancient art, collectors, and jewelry enthusiasts. The accompanying text contextualizes the rings historically and artistically, offering valuable technical insights.

This study explores the rings from the final years of the Byzantine Empire, covering the Latin occupation of Constantinople (1204-1261) and the Palaiologan restoration until the fall to the Turks in 1453. These rings are notable for their intricate designs and diverse inscriptions, including personal names, monograms, official titles, and epigrams by Byzantine poets. Nearly fifty rings from the Palaiologan period are illustrated and discussed, alongside earlier Byzantine examples and related jewelry from Bulgaria, Serbia, and the West. Many of these rings are published for the first time. The study begins by examining the diversity of rings before the Latin Conquest, noting that the occupation disrupted production in Byzantine style. After 1261, workshops in Constantinople resumed, resulting in new forms that blended traditional Byzantine styles with significant Western influences, evident in engraving techniques and the use of engraved gems. The findings will benefit students of Byzantine and Medieval history, literature, art, and jewelry, revealing previously unrecorded names and titles that illuminate the relationship between the imperial court and the emerging landowning class. The rings also reflect political and economic ties with neighboring Serbia and Bulgaria, while showcasing Western craftsmanship and heraldic devices. Engraved verses highlight both traditional and contemporary Byzantine poetry, indicating that high-

This volume showcases over 200 artworks from American collector James Ferrell, focusing on jewelry, engraved gems, cameos, medallions, and silver plates from the late Roman and early Byzantine periods (3rd–7th centuries AD). Much of the collection originates from imperial workshops and served as official gifts. It begins with a selection of Hellenistic jewelry, including a necklace, earrings, and rings likely of Ptolemaic origin. The second chapter features late Roman jewelry, gems, and cameos, highlighting necklaces, bracelets, rings, fibulae, and belts, primarily dating from the third to fifth centuries AD. The third and fourth chapters explore jewelry and objects from Gothic tombs of the fifth and sixth centuries AD. Chapter Five presents exquisite Byzantine jewelry from the sixth and seventh centuries, featuring pendants, crosses, bracelets, earrings, and rings adorned with precious gems and pearls. The final chapter focuses on Byzantine ecclesiastical silver from the sixth century AD. This publication will attract scholars, museums, and collectors alike, offering significant insights for historians of late antiquity and Byzantinists, especially with its rich selection of Byzantine pieces showcasing unusual iconography. Jewelry historians and collectors will appreciate the superb color photography throughout the volume.