Description: This volume publishes over 200 works of art belonging to the American collector, James Ferrell. The focus of the collection is jewelry, engraved gems and cameos, medallions, and silver plate primarily of the late Roman and early Byzantine periods (3rd-7th centuries AD). Much of the material derives from imperial workshops and served as official gifts. The catalogue opens with a small selection of Hellenistic jewelry, including a group composed of a necklace, earrings, and rings probably of Ptolemaic origin. The second chapter is composed primarily of late Roman jewelry, gems and cameos, and other objects in precious metal, including necklaces, bracelets, rings, fibulae, and belts, most of which date between the third and fifth centuries AD. The third and fourth chapters are devoted to the jewelry and other objects of the sort found in Gothic tombs of the fifth and sixth centuries AD. Chapter Five presents an outstanding selection of Byzantine jewelry of the sixth and seventh century, including pendants, crosses, bracelets, earrings, and rings, many set with precious gems and pearls. The final chapter is devoted to Byzantine ecclesiastical silver of the sixth century AD. The publication will be of considerable interest to a variety of scholars, museums, and collectors. Historians of late antiquity will find many objects with important imperial associations. The rich selection of Byzantine jewelry and silver, including many pieces decorated with unusual iconography, will be of importance to Byzantinists. The Gothic objects include many pieces of particularly high quality. Jewelry historians and collectors will be delighted with the superb color photography.
Review Quotes: "Review - German ""Die hinsichtlich einiger Objekte von den Vorschlagen des Verf. abweichende Meinung des Rez. (...) vermogen den hohen Wert des Kataloges keineswegs zu schmalern. Die einzelnen Texte enthalten konzise Beschreibungen und nachvollziehbare Datierungen. Verbunden mit dem wissenschaftlichen Apparat und den Abbildungen, die durchgangig von hervorragender Qualitat sind, stellt die vorliegende Publikation eine gelungene Erschliessung dieser vorzuglichen Sammlung dar. Der im Vorwort formulierte Anspruch geschmackvollen Genusses wurde ohne Zweifel eingelost, fur einige Objekte wird man sich zudem wunschen, dass sie dauerhaften Eingang in den wissenschaftlichen Diskurs finden. Der vorliegendeKatalog bildet dafur zweifellos einen wichtigen Ausgangspunkt, fur dessen Existenz man Sammler und Verf. gerne seinen Dank abstattet.""Jorn LangIn: Gottinger Forum fur Altertumswissenschaft 14 (2011) 1187-1194http: //gfa.gbv.de/dr, gfa,014,2011, r,27.pdf(4. JUli 2012)"