SHOP
ALL EXTREMELY FINE
18K - 24K GOLD
SILVER | GOLD PLATED
SILVER | GOLD PLATED
Animals are symbols of both physical and cosmic powers. Honored as a source of life and inspiration, each animal represents different instincts and facets of their species. Animals embody identifications with humans, aspects of their complex nature, instincts and secret motivations.
Mythology describes the religions of the ancient past. Myths tell the stories of ancestors and the origins of humans and the world. They explain cosmological and natural phenomena, cultural values and traditions.
In all countries and ages studied by historical science, the Zodiac is to be found in almost the same circular shape. It is universally associated with the most important archeological remains in the shape of temples and places.
The remarkable artworks on metals were first issued by the Greeks in c. 550 BC in Lydia, present day Turkey. When people started trading with large quantities of products and semi-precious metals, the Greek city-states named Poleis started stamping precious metals to guarantee their citizens a standardised value. Big denominations in both gold and silver could be used for trade, but most were small and only used in the areas they were issued.
With around 1000 Poleis issuing their own coins, Greek coinage reached an extraordinary level of technical and artistic performance. The designs became a matter of civic pride and often depicted a new version of a specific symbol for centuries.
The engraving of gemstones dates back to 5000 BC. The gem-engraving in Europe started c. 550 BC, when new materials and techniques became available to the Greek artists.
They passed their knowledge to the Romans, who used their immense wealth to produce extravagant jewelry with precious and semi-precious stones from all across the empire.
They passed their knowledge to the Romans, who used their immense wealth to produce extravagant jewelry with precious and semi-precious stones from all across the empire.
Gold is the perfect metal. It shines like the sun and lasts forever. Gold can be found from natural sources, it is universally associated with deities and rulers.
Silver is associated with the moon. Due to its difficult extraction there were times when it was more rare than gold.
The finest art of human history was handcrafted by the Greek and Roman artists during the Classical Antiquity.
In Fine art, Classical Antiquity defines the flourishing period of the Ancient Greek and Roman civilizations and their influence on the cultures in the Mediterranean, Europe, Northern Africa, and West Asia.
The influence of the Ancient Greek culture in the Mediterranean is considered the base of modern culture.
 With the fall of Corinth in 146 BC most of the Greek peninsula fell to the Roman Republic. The sophisticated Greeks highly influenced the progressive Roman culture.
The influence of the progressive Roman culture and institutions in language, art, literature, law, government, and architecture build the foundation of modern society.
The Roman Monarchy (753 - 510 BC) was overthrown by the people to form the Roman Republic, represented by two consuls and a senate. Rome's advanced organization enabled the expansion over the entire Mediterranean.
Gaius Iulius Caesar (100 - 44 BC) enriched and enlarged the republic like no other man before him. He had conquered the provinces Hispania and Gallia, gaining himself enormous wealth and the authority over huge armies. His political career as a third consul led to the Roman civil war, which resulted in the monocratic Roman Empire.
In AD 395 the Roman Empire got divided at its greatest territorial extent, when it was home to one third of the world's population. The downfall of the Western Roman Empire with its new capital in present day Milan was signified by its revolting citizens.
 In AD 476, the Germanic leader Odoacer was the first Barbarian to rule in Rome. This marks the end of Roman Classical Antiquity. The Eastern-Roman Empire is known to us as the Byzantine Empire.
The Eastern-Roman capital Byzantium, present day Istanbul, was renamed to Constantinople by Constantine the Great (AD 272–337) in AD 330. His conversion to Christianity played a key role in the political change to follow monotheism.
The Byzantine or Eastern-Roman Empire continued to exist for an additional thousand years until it fell to the Ottoman Empire in AD 1453. Official mints depict Christian and Early-Medieval symbolism.