Western Asiatic Gold Earring with Granules - (1)

A stunning Western Asiatic gold earring. The triangular-shaped gold plate is decorated with clusters of golden granules: five granules on top form a cross and five on the bottom form a decorative border. The earring showcases the gold working technique excellently, with the reverse finished to a high standard. The finely curved loop for wearing terminates in a single gold granule.

Many grand civilizations inhabited the area of Western Asia in Antiquity, and their wealth and prosperity is witnessed by the very sophisticated precious metal crafting of jewellery. Gold would have been hammered down to a thin layer and manipulated into different shapes. Gold and silver jewellery would have featured gold granules, glass and semi-precious stone inlays and detailed engravings. Very fine granulation, as we can see on this item, along with filigree, were at the centre of Near Eastern and Western Asiatic jewellery production and were later adopted by the Greeks, Etruscans and Romans.

Measurements: Circa L 2. 8cm x W 1. 6cm

Weight: 2. 52g

Provenance: Ex major London collection collected by S. M. 1970-99.