4th century BC-1st century AD. A magnificent hairpin with sheet-gold laid over bronze core, tapering pin with an acanthus leaf capital, above a rock crystal platform upon which the eagle of Zeus is standing, fine feather detailing to the body and wings, a teardrop-shaped almandine stone in a raised setting on the breast. See Marshall, F.H., Catalogue of the jewellery Greek, Etruscan & Roman in the departments of Antiquities of British Museum, London, 1911, pl.XXXIX, n.1999, for the type; Elderkin, K. McK., ‘Buttons and their use on Greek garments’ in American Journal of Archaeology, vol.32, n.3, Jul-Sep., 1928, pp.333-345; ????????, ?.?., ??????? ?.?., ?????? ?.?., ?????? ?.?., ?????? ?.?; ????????? ?.?., ???????, ?.?, ???????? ????????? ????????? ????? ?????????? ?? ?????, ????, 2004; Yavtushenko, I. (ed.), Masterpieces of Platar, Kiev, 2004; Brons, C., ‘Representations and realities. Fibulas and pins in Greek and Near Eastern Iconography’ in Nosch, M., & Harlow, M. (eds.), Greek and Roman textiles and dress: an interdisciplinary Anthology, Oxford, 2014, pp.60-94.9.12 grams, 12.5cm (5"). Property of a London businessman; acquired in London from Mr A.B. in 2019; formerly in an old American private collection since the 1980s; accompanied by an archaeological report by Dr. Raffaele D’Amato; and an independent specialist report and valuation by graduate gemmologist and jewellery expert Anna Rogers, GIA GG, BA, Gem-A, ref. no.169250/07/12/2020; this lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by AIAD certificate number no.10396-169250. Beautifully decorated gold pins with elaborate ornamentation were in use in the Hellenistic world from the 4th century BC (????????, ???????, ?????? ?.?. & ?????? ?.?., ??????, ?????????,???????, 2004, p.143, fig.46) often produced by South Italic workshops (Yavtushenko, 2004, pp.62-63"). Straight pins were also used to hold garments together as shown on a bronze statuette from Arcadia, dated to the 6th century BC and preserved at the MET, representing a shepherd whose cloak is frontally fastened by a pin. Since Greek clothing was not sewn, straight pins and fibulae (safety pins) were used to fasten a garment at the shoulders, the sleeves, over the chest, and at other critical points. Interestingly, the pointed pins were not only used as dress or hair accessories. Herodotus (V,87ff.) tells us the story of the defeat and destruction of the Athenians – all but one man – at Aegina. The poor soldier, upon his return to Athens, was set upon and slain by the indignant wives of his unfortunate companions, who stabbed him to death with the pins of their garments. After this episode, a law was passed in Athens compelling the Athenian women to change their Attic dress to the Ionian one, which did not require fastening pins. [A video of this lot is available to view on TimeLine Auctions website.]