Pair of Roman Gold Earrings with Teardrop Garnets

£ 1,350.00

A very fine pair of Roman gold earrings composed of a rosette sitting above teardrop shaped centrepieces with hanging drops. Each earring has a cabochon garnet teardrop inlay set in a gold frame enriched with a further gold beaded frame. Above features rosettes produced using the repoussé technique with small piercing in the centre of them. Below the garnet is a dangling drop, connected through a loop, consisting of a cylinder shape with a carved coil pattern and a further gold strand curled at the end. The reverse displays a small earring hook attached behind the rosettes.

 

Date: Circa 2nd-3rd Century BC
Condition: Excellent Condition

SOLD

SKU: SA-61 Category: Tags: ,

During The Roman Empire jewellery became quickly a fundamental and essential social display of wealth. Following the spread of the Roman Empire, Roman jewellery became more and more elaborate in the designs and in the materials used. Semi-precious gemstones, such as garnet, were used to enrich and embellish earrings, rings and necklaces. In Ancient Greek and Roman mythology, Hades gave pomegranate seeds to his lover Persephone, as a token of safety, while she was leaving the underworld to join her mother Demeter in the human world. The semi-precious stone garnet, recalling the colour and the shape of the pomegranate seed, became a typical gift exchanged between separated lovers.

To discover more about the meanings of gemstones and semi-precious gemstones in Antiquity, please visit our relevant blog post: The History and Mythology of Gemstones in Ancient Jewellery.

Weight 4.1 g
Dimensions L 4.7 x W 1.1 cm
Culture

Metal

Region

Semi-Precious Stones

Reference: For Similar: Christie’s Auction House, Auction 9258, Ancient Jewellery, 8th December 1999, lot 75

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