The Athena necklace is a stunning piece of jewellery that features a Roman carnelian intaglio (14 x 10.4 x 2.7 mm) dating back to the second century AD. The intaglio is carved with great skill and precision, depicting the goddess Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, courage and strategic warfare. In the intaglio, Athena is shown standing, leaning on a column with her shield at her feet, while holding the aegis, a symbol of her divine power and protection. She is also wearing a helmet, symbolising her prowess in war.
The intaglio is set in an 18 karat rose gold bezel, adorned with blue sapphires, a wonderful colour contrast and complementing the warm hues of the carnelian. The imprint of the intaglio in gold shows the exact appearance and fine details of the carved image, as the imprint in wax. The necklace is designed to be versatile, offering multiple ways to wear it. It can be worn as a lariat, above the gold imprint or below, with the Sassi lock hooked in the chain wherever the wearer desires, or as a sautoir, with the option to attach it to a foldable eyelet, invisible if not in use.
The gold Sassi lock, with its shortened logo in an S-shape, is inspired by ancient Roman and Greek antique locks used in jewellery. The use of the Sassi lock in the Athena necklace adds a functional aspect to the piece, allowing it to be worn as a lariat or sautoir.
The combination of the Roman carnelian intaglio, the rose gold bezel, blue sapphires, and the gold Sassi lock creates a harmonious blend of ancient and contemporary aesthetics in the Athena necklace. It is a testament to the enduring appeal and inspiration drawn from the art and culture of the past, reinterpreted in a modern and luxurious piece of jewellery.
