ear-ring
- Museum number
- 1981,0905.3
- Description
-
Gold hoop ear-ring with a carnelian inlay and pyramidal pendant of granules.
Andrási 2008
The hoop is of circular-section wire, which forms an elongated hook at the upper end for suspension from the ear. It passes behind the setting and its other end is a round loop which secures the pendant. Is is flattened where a thin, gold, oval sheet is soldered above the lower loop. This serves as a base-plate for a setting with its collet formed of a single strip soldered on and curved around the inlay with overlapping ends. It contains an oval, faceted inlay of carnelian with a flat top and a central, wheel-cut intaglio. The intaglio depicts a pedestal-vase with corn, or leaves, projecting from either side of its top as possibly a symbol of vegetation. At least two different sizes of wheel were used for cutting it. The depth of the stone extends to the bottom of the setting. There is a double-twisted wire – in a herring-bone pattern – forming a broad border around the collet, soldered onto the base-sheet all around its edge.
The pendant is a bunch of granules seven deep forming an inverted pyramid. The granules were made individually and soldered together. To its base is soldered a cylindrical, ribbed sheet which is soldered to a circular loop of circular-section wire, by means of which the pendant is attached to the earring hoop.
- Production date
- 2ndC-4thC
- Dimensions
-
Length: 5 centimetres (overall)
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Length: 1.60 centimetres (pendant part)
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Length: 3.40 centimetres (upper part)
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Weight: 2.70 grammes
- Curator's comments
- Andrási 2008
The inverted pyramidal pendant is a long-lived feature, which was popular all over the classical world.
The engraved gem decoration on such an earring is an unusual combination. The gemstone itself is of the middle Roman period, but it was associated with the earring possibly at a later time, around the 2nd to 4th centuries.[1]
Comparative bibliography
1. C. Jones, pers. comm.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1923
- Department
- Greek and Roman
- Registration number
- 1981,0905.3
- Additional IDs
-
Miscellaneous number: 140 (old cat. no.)
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Other BM number: 1923,0716.5 (M&LA Number)