Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. A magnificent pair of Roman 18 karat gold earrings presenting a mesmerizing polygonal design with each side delineated in bands of large hollow gold spheres (adjoined hemispheres) - the lowest one textured perhaps to represent a pinecone - the lower sides of the polygonal form are further adorned by hollow tubular ornaments that would have been set with pearls or stones - all suspended from a ring at the apex of each. Size: 1.625" L x 1.125" W (4.1 cm x 2.9 cm); Weight: 6.9 grams

The Romans associated the pine cone with Venus (Greek Aphrodite), the goddess of love. Furthermore Bacchus (Greek Dionysos) - the god of wine, pleasure, and madness - carried a pinecone tipped staff called a thyrsos as a fertility symbol. Also interesting, while many ancient Roman jewelry designs resembled those of the Greeks and the Egyptians, the hemispheric motif - used to create the gold spheres comprising these earrings - was purely a Roman creation.

Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-Arte Primitivo Gallery, New York, New York, USA

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#133112

Some dents to hollow spheres. Textured lowest sphere (perhaps representing a pinecone) of one earring is dented. Some cylindrical ornaments missing as shown. Cylindrical ornaments were probably originally set with pearls or stones. Not wearable as is, but could easily be suspended from new settings in order to wear.