Roman Gold Earrings with Glass Juglets

£ 370.00

An elegant matching pair of ancient Roman gold earrings, each featuring a crescent shape, with narrow ends, and a dangling attachment in the form of a stylised vessel, rendered in glass paste. Hoop earrings of this type would have been worn by the Romans as every-day piece of jewellery, and rarely removed.  The earrings are modelled using high karat gold, around 22-24 karat.

Date: Circa 1st-2nd Century AD
Provenance: From SM collection, acquired in the 1970s-1990s.
Condition: Very fine, suitable for modern wear with care. Consult a professional jeweller for any alterations.

SOLD

SKU: CS-335 Category: Tag:

As in many ancient societies, jewellery was an important social marker used to demonstrate wealth. Following the spread of the Roman Empire, Roman jewellery became more and more elaborate in the designs and in the materials used, such as precious and semi-precious gemstones. Loop earrings, such as this fine example, were among the most popular styles of earrings worn by Roman women. Such earrings would have been worn by straightening the pointed, tapering gold wire through the pierced ear, threading the wire through the coil, and then closing it in a loop, as seen on this fine example.

Weight 1.32 g
Dimensions H 3 cm
Culture

Metal

Region

Glass

Reference: For similar: The Metropolitan Museum, item 74.51.3775.