ear-ring
- Museum number
- 1872,0604.602
- Description
-
Loop earring with pearls: an S-shaped gold loop earring made from a single wire finely tapered at both ends, one forming the point of the suspension hook, the other wound around the body of the wire to create the beaded ring. The decoration on the front of the loop consists of nine white pearls, all of somewhat irregular shape and graduated in size, the largest with a diameter of roughly 4 mm at the top. A tiny gold bead acts as a stop beneath the last pearl.
- Production date
- 1stC-2ndC
- Dimensions
-
Height: 2.50 centimetres
-
Weight: 1.40 grammes
-
Weight: 27 grains
- Curator's comments
- Such earrings are commonly found on mummy portraits of women from Hawara and other Fayum sites, ranging in date from the early to late second century AD.
Bibliography:
F. H. Marshall, ‘Catalogue of the Jewellery, Greek, Etruscan and Roman, in the Departments of Antiquities, British Museum’ (1911), no. 2679;
S. Walker, 'Ancient Faces', New York 2000, pp. 152-3 [104].
- Location
- On display (G70/dc32)
- Exhibition history
-
Exhibited:
2001-2002, 13 Oct-14 Apr, New York, Natural History Museum, Pearls
2002-2003, 1 Aug-1 Feb, Chicago, Field Museum, Pearls
2010 ,29 Jan-5 Jun, Qatar, Doha, Museum of Islamic Arts, The Kingdom of Pearls
- Acquisition date
- 1872
- Department
- Greek and Roman
- Registration number
- 1872,0604.602
