Greek, Hellenistic, 4th - 3rd century B.C.

Yellow Jasper

L: 2.70 cm - W: 2.20 cm

Serial: 13851

Provenance: Ex- Mariaud De Serres collection, 1950’s – 1960’s

A charming jasper cameo with two ducks. One stands upright looking up in the direction of an insect (a dragonfly or butterfly) that flutters in the upper right corner of the image. The other bird is bent over, seeming to pick at grain on the ground. The ducks stand with their feet on a horizontal ground line. The miniature dimensions of the piece did not prevent the carver from embellishing the scene with numerous details. This cameo was probably used as a central stone for a finger ring or a pendant.