As in many societies in antiquity, jewellery was an important social marker used to demonstrate wealth in the Roman Empire. With the expansion of the empire, Roman jewellery became more elaborate in its design, as goldsmiths were influenced by the range of styles, materials and techniques used by craftsmen in these newly conquered territories. By incorporating these foreign techniques and new designs, Rome could reflect its position as a prosperous and dominant conquering city. Roman jewellery was enriched and embellished with precious, semi-precious stones and glass beads. This fine pair of earrings feature glass beads, on which a mother of pearl like iridescence is visible. The iridescence on ancient Roman glass was unintentional, and was caused by weathering on its surface. The extent to which a glass object weathers depends mainly on the burial conditions; however, the humidity, heat, and type of soil in which the glass was buried also all affect its preservation.
