A Greek enamelled, silver-gilt filigree mounted boxwood double-sided pendant, second half 18th century, Mount Athos

A similar double-sided wood pendant depicting The Annuciation and Saint George and the Dragon in a surround of gilt filigree interspersed with teardrop-shaped colored enamel and gems and suspended from the same type of chain from the Simonopetra Monastery on Mount Athos compares well with the present example (Thessaloniki, op. cit., no. 9.81, p. 425).  The style of these pendants is characteristic of late 17th and early 18th century carving from Mount Athos, the center of Orthodox monasticism, and the filigree surrounds are reminiscent of earlier western motifs.

RELATED LITERATURE

The Treasures of Mt. Athos (exh. cat.), Thessaloniki, 1997