Leszczynski - Late Minoan, Creature, Covered, Gems
Introduction
A collection of lentoid gems engraved by Minoan craftsmen. This collection spans the Late Minoan I-II thru the Late Minoan II-IIIA periods. And ranges in years from 1600 BCE to 1300BCE. Lentoid is used as a descriptive word simply because they all posses the same shape that of a lens. Material used by the artist of this collection is Jasper, Agate, Carnelian and Marble. All objects come from The Met and are classified as Gems by the museum.
Minoan craftsmen engraved these gems with everything and the limits were their own creativity. In this collection the gems are adorned with animals and mythical creatures. We start the exhibit off with a gem engraved with the octopus. A marine animal indigenous to the Aegean and Mediterraen Seas. And popular among Minoan artists.
Marble Lentoid
The medium used by the artist is marble and the period is Late Minoan II-IIIA. The Octopus was engraved into the marble by a Minoan craftsman sometime between the years 1450-1375 B.C. The head/body is center top and three tentacles can be seen on either side extending out from the head/body. This object was left to The Met by Richard Berry Seager in 1926.
Agate Lentoid Seal
The medium used by this artist is agate. It is from the Late Minoan IIIA period. BCE. This agate lentoid was used as a Seal. The craftsmen engraved the agate with two rampaging goats. The goats are divided by a column the artist has placed between them. The goats in the agate were likely chosen for a personal reason by the person who commissioned the seal. The Provenance of this object is the Rogers Fund, 1907. The seal was created sometime between the years 1400-1300 B.C.
Jasper Lentoid
The medium of this object is Jasper. This Jasper Lentoid is engraved with two Bulls lying down and heads raised. A double axe head is placed between the horns of both bulls. And Linear B signs between the bulls themselves. The period for this object is Late Minoan IB-II. The provenance of this work is the Rogers Fund, 1907. This work of art was created sometime between 1500-1400 B.C.
Carnelian Lentoid Seal
The medium of this seal is carnelian. The period for the object is Late Minoan I-II. This carnelian lentoid is engraved with a wounded lion. The lion’s head can be seen in the top, right of the lentoid. The lion is laying on its side with the pointed end of an arrow buried in the creatures back. The quill end of the arrow is engraved at the “11:00” position of the lentoid. The provenance is Richard B. Seager, 1926. This was engraved sometime between the years 1600-1400 B.C.
Agate Lentoid
The medium for this object is agate. It is from the Late Minoan II period. This agate lentoid was engraved by a Minoan craftsmen with a griffin. A griffin, is the mythical animal with the head and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion. There are three legs at the bottom of the lentoid shape with wings at the top left. Triangles are engraved from the middle, left up to the top. Possibly signifying flight with the triangles representing the sun, in the background. The provenance of this object is purchased by exchange in 1914. This work of art dates back to 1450-1400B.C.
