The ancient Romans considered jewellery to be an essential accessory, for it provided a public display of their wealth. Roman jewellery at first followed trends set by the Etruscans, using gold and glass beads, but as the power and spread of the Roman Empire increased, so too did jewellery designs became increasingly elaborate. Different cultural styles from Greece, Egypt, North Africa, and the Orient were all incorporated to reflect Rome’s prosperity as a dominant, conquering city. The wide range of natural resources enabled artisans to create ostentatious jewellery using a diverse selection of materials: this increasingly included sapphires, diamonds, emeralds, garnet and amber from India, and pearls (which were particularly prized). Archaeological finds of Roman jewellery are relatively rare, considering the magnitude of Roman civilisation, and the historical and geographical span of the Empire.
Ancient Roman Gold Earrings with Granulation
$1,736.15
A substantial pair of Ancient Roman gold earrings featuring a large circular central boss with a beautiful pendant decorated with fine granulation. The discus is decorated with a central tri-clustered granulation, with four simple granules to the edges. The whole boss is framed with gentle rope work around the edges. The hanging pendants feature a cylindrical bead, from which a grape-like cluster of hollow spheres hangs adorned with a multitude of gold granules.
Condition: Very fine. Some natural encrustation.
In stock
| Weight | 7.27 g |
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| Dimensions | L 4.7 cm |
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