Roman 20K+ Gold & Pearl Earrings - Wearable!
Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 2nd to 4th century CE. In a word, head-turner! These gorgeous gold earrings comprised of 84% gold (equivalent of 20K+) and natural pearls are simply stunning. The design features a large 84% gold (equivalent to 20K+) hoop with an intricately composed dangler featuring a loop with a long extension around which gold wire is wound and adorned by granule clusters and pearls. In addition, an 84% gold (equivalent to 20K+) chain swag dangles from the hoop, and the hoops themselves are further adorned with wrapped wire, one with another seed pearl. Interestingly, some scholars have interpreted the hoops of Roman earrings as representing abstract coiling snakes which symbolized immortality. A fabulous pair of Roman earrings, elaborately ornamented with fancy danglers, both fitted with modern 20K gold hooks so that they are ready to wear. Indeed these are gorgeous works of wearable art! Total weight: 13.7 grams. Size: 3" L x .75" diameter hoops (7.6 cm x 1.9 cm) + .5" L (1.3 cm) hooks. Gold quality: 84%, equivalent to 20K+
Before cultured pearls were created in the early 1900s, natural pearls were very rare and incredibly expensive. Hence, they were typically possessed only by noble and wealthy individuals. According to the NOVA program entitled The Perfect Pearl, "At the height of the Roman Empire, when pearl fever reached its peak, the historian Suetonius wrote that the Roman general Vitellius financed an entire military campaign by selling just one of his mother's pearl earrings."
Provenance: ex-Frances Artuner collection, Belgium, collected in the 1960s
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#151708 Dimensions: Condition Report: Hoops are a tad misshapen as expected, but still present their forms nicely. Minor nicks to seed pearls adorning wires wrapped around one of the hoops. The other hoop does not have any pearls adorning it. The danglers present pearls that are in very nice condition. All elements are ancient save the 20K gold hooks which were added later to make these earrings wearable.
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Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 2nd to 4th century CE. In a word, head-turner! These gorgeous gold earrings comprised of 84% gold (equivalent of 20K+) and natural pearls are simply stunning. The design features a large 84% gold (equivalent to 20K+) hoop with an intricately composed dangler featuring a loop with a long extension around which gold wire is wound and adorned by granule clusters and pearls. In addition, an 84% gold (equivalent to 20K+) chain swag dangles from the hoop, and the hoops themselves are further adorned with wrapped wire, one with another seed pearl. Interestingly, some scholars have interpreted the hoops of Roman earrings as representing abstract coiling snakes which symbolized immortality. A fabulous pair of Roman earrings, elaborately ornamented with fancy danglers, both fitted with modern 20K gold hooks so that they are ready to wear. Indeed these are gorgeous works of wearable art! Total weight: 13.7 grams. Size: 3" L x .75" diameter hoops (7.6 cm x 1.9 cm) + .5" L (1.3 cm) hooks. Gold quality: 84%, equivalent to 20K+
Before cultured pearls were created in the early 1900s, natural pearls were very rare and incredibly expensive. Hence, they were typically possessed only by noble and wealthy individuals. According to the NOVA program entitled The Perfect Pearl, "At the height of the Roman Empire, when pearl fever reached its peak, the historian Suetonius wrote that the Roman general Vitellius financed an entire military campaign by selling just one of his mother's pearl earrings."
Provenance: ex-Frances Artuner collection, Belgium, collected in the 1960s
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#151708 Dimensions: Condition Report: Hoops are a tad misshapen as expected, but still present their forms nicely. Minor nicks to seed pearls adorning wires wrapped around one of the hoops. The other hoop does not have any pearls adorning it. The danglers present pearls that are in very nice condition. All elements are ancient save the 20K gold hooks which were added later to make these earrings wearable.
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