**First Time At Auction**

Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. A beautiful gold earring comprised of 92% gold (equivalent to 22K+) in the form of a standing winged cupid (Erote) with an astonishing level of detail for his diminutive size. This figure is applied to a loop that would have once served as a clasp. In the Roman period, Cupid had become a child (in earlier Greek times, he was often a muscular youth), but he retains his mischievous air, ready to help couples fall in love through not-entirely-innocent interventions. The ancient earring has a modern finding attached to the original ear wire for wearability. Size (w/o ear wire): 0.48" L x 0.18" W x 0.55" H (1.2 cm x 0.5 cm x 1.4 cm); gold quality: 92% (equivalent to 22K+); weight (including ear wire): 2.2 grams

Gold is a rare find from the Roman Empire. As the Empire expanded, they gained access to mineral sources that allowed them to make rich gold items. Iberia was the major source of gold for the Romans, and there is widescale evidence for Roman mining of the region. Gold was also mined in Gaul and Britain, and, in some rare instances, imported from as far afield as India. However, the amount of gold available to the Romans was relatively small, and gold items are indicative of great wealth.

Provenance: private East Coast collection, New York, USA; ex-East Coast collection, New York Gallery, New York City, New York, USA, acquired before 2010

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.

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Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.

#151719

Wearable as shown and fitted with finding in modern times. Slight bending to overall form, with softening to some finer details, and light encrustations along verso. Ancient clasping mechanism is not usable. Great preservation to overall form.