Etruscan
Jewelry Fragment: Sheep's Head, 9th century BCE - 2nd century BCE
Gold, 1.2 x 1.6 x 1 cm (7/16 x 5/8 x 3/8 in.)
This small, Etruscan jewelry fragment is a gold sheep’s head. The features of the sheep are carved and shaped in the soft gold. The sheep is three dimensional, and has large eyes and a round snout. A thin line delineates the mouth. Carving also marks out the scrolling and matting of the sheep’s fur. There is a band of carved gold on what is the beginning of the neck area.
Little Salon
Commentary
Isabella Stewart Gardner kept meticulous records of many of her acquisitions. In keeping with this legacy, object information is continually being reviewed, updated, and enriched in order to give greater access to the collection.