A Greek gold necklace, circa late 4th century BC. Estimation: USD 15,000 - 20,000. Photo Christie's Image Ltd 2015

ormed of a length of loop-in-loop chain, terminating at each end with a female head, her oval face with wide eyes deeply-set beneath overhanging brows, a prominent nose and a small mouth, her hair plaited, arranged in a melon coiffure, and pulled back in a chignon, adorned with pendant earrings and a beaded necklace of granulation, a double hook-and-loop closure emerging from each chignon - 1211⁄16 in. (32.3 cm.) long

PROVENANCE: Private Collection, U.K. 1970s.
with Gawain McKinley, London, prior to 1985.

Notes: This necklace may once have had an elaborate centerpiece, perhaps a Herakles knot, as seen in the similar example in the Schmuckmuseum in Pforzheim, Germany, see no. 86 in H. Hoffman and P. F. Davidson, Greek Gold: Jewelry From the Age of Alexander.

Christie's. Ancient Jewelry sale - Online auctions December 1 -10.