Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. A striking pair of matched 80% to 82.6% gold (equivalent to 19K+) earrings, each composed of a curved sheet of gold with granulated and twisted adornments. The domed piece is attached to a large, twisted wire ear hook that catches at an integral loop on the top of the dome. The lower rim is decorated with applied double spirals. Two twisting wires run freely from the rim to the dangling quartet of hollow gold spheres decorated with tiny granulations. The lower part of the ear hook supports the backside of this spherical section. This bunch of spheres and granulated balls is reminiscent to a cluster of grapes. These earrings would have belonged to an elite Roman woman, perhaps one from the upper class who had their ears pierced and wore one set of earrings. Jewelry was particularly important to women in Roman society, because it was legally their own property, independent of their husband's wealth, and they could use it as they saw fit. This matched pair is stunning and potentially wearable (see condition report). Size: 1.5" L x .55" W (3.8 cm x 1.4 cm); 2.75" H (7 cm) on included custom stand; quality of gold: 80% to 82.6% (equivalent to 19K+); total weight: 6.2 grams

This piece has been searched against the Art Loss Register database and has been cleared. The Art Loss Register maintains the world’s largest database of stolen art, collectibles, and antiques.

Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection, acquired 2018; ex-Gorny & Mosch, auction 260, lot 252, December 18, 2018; ex-Shlomo Moussaieff collection, London, England, between 1948 to 2000

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#164551

Indentations and bending of forms. Small nicks to peripheries of both. Loss to tip of one hook wire but does not affect overall appearance. Light mineral deposits on interior of domes. Ear hooks are delicate and do not articulate. Could be made wearable by a jeweler.