Diadem from Jávea

Articulated diadem with triangular ends that entered the National Archaeological Museum in 1905, a later version of orientalising diadems like the one from Aliseda. The filigreed and granulated openwork decoration reflects the influence of classical Greek designs, reinterpreted according to Iberian tastes. There are no signs of use, so it may have been commissioned solely as a status symbol.
Similar pieces have been found in other Iberian hoards, for instance at La Puebla de los Infantes. Today scholars agree that it was fashioned by a Greek artisan who had settled in the Iberian Peninsula, based on the motifs—rosettes, ovals and scrolls forming meanders are all typical of classical Greek art—although the technique seems to reflect the preferences of local buyers.
This diadem pertains to the Jávea Hoard, which also included three necklaces, a fibula, and one gold and several silver bracelets, presumably the grave goods of a woman, as most of the pieces closely resemble jewellery items seen on Iberian female statues of stone and bronze. The set is a splendid illustration of the wealthier classes’ penchant for accumulating riches and high-quality goods.