The Achaemenid Empire, famous in Antiquity for its richness of gold and precious stones, produced very sophisticated and detailed jewellery crafted from gold, silver and copper. Gold would have been hammered down to a thin layer and manipulated into different shapes. Gold and silver jewellery would have featured gold granules, glass and semi-precious stone inlays and detailed engravings. As in many ancient societies, jewellery was an important social marker used to demonstrate wealth, social status and privilege. In Ancient Persian culture jewellery was worn in everyday life but was also buried with the decease as part of his or her funerary outfit.
Achaemenid Gold Floral Earrings
$865.73
A very fine pair of Achaemenid Empire gold earrings, each comprising a hook leading to a flat base which displays the decorative face of the earring. The front of each earring features a border of gold granules encircling an incredibly delicate trefoil motif, which would have originally been inlaid with precious and semi-precious stones, now sadly missing. The reverse features a small cylindrical shaped hollow knob, decorated with twirling wired gold, possibly used to hold the earring’s hooks in place.
Provenance: Ex Faustus Gallery and Jack Ogden, 1970-1980s.
Condition: Very fine condition, some earthly encrustations to the surface. These earrings are suitable for modern wear with care.
SOLD
| Weight | 3.71 g |
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| Dimensions | L 1.7 x W 1.1 cm |
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