Roman Electrum Earrings

$916.19

A hooped pair of Roman electrum (an alloy of silver and gold) earrings, each with a central discus. The hoops are neatly formed, and are thicker at the back and bottom than at the top. There is a cluster of hollow spheres cascading from the lower part of the hoop in a pyramidal formation. Each of the hollow spheres also features pyramidal granulation, formed from delicate spheres of electrum. The central discus of the earring has a raised outer lip and a small sphere in the centre, thus echoing the spheres at the base.

Date: Circa 2nd - 3rd Century AD
Condition: Fine condition.

SOLD

SKU: AH-296 Category: Tag:

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.

 

Weight 32.6 g
Dimensions L 2.9 x W 1.7 cm
Region

Metal

Culture

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