CIRCA 5TH CENTURY B.C.

Details

A PAIR OF ETRUSCAN GOLD A BAULE EARRINGS
CIRCA 5TH CENTURY B.C.
Each composed of a rectangular sheet formed into a partial cylinder, the ends terminating in a casing inset with a silver pin for attachment of the arched earwire (one missing), each with a lunate extension fringed with undulating ribbon, enclosing a repoussé figure of a bird, one facing left, one facing right, beneath a filigree and granulated series of arches, a sheet petal and granulated rosette on either side of the bird, granulated petals rimmed with plain wire below, the front section of the cylinder with three rows of three compartments divided by ribbon, each enclosing a sheet petal rosette, the corner rosettes with small figures of birds, the remaining with a raised boss rimmed by twisted wires, with dot centers surrounded by twisted wire, the central rosette with four additional granulated petals rimmed with plain wire, the back section of the cylinder divided from the front by five ribbon volutes and a twisted wire, with three filigree plants separated by twisted wire, filigree tongues at each end, each tongue terminating in a granulated ball, the sides of the cylinders with spiraled plain wire rimmed with twisted wire, one side of each with a palmette, the leaves with granulation rimmed with plain wire
Each: 13/16 in. (2.1 cm.) wide (2)

Provenance

European Private Collection, 1970s.
with Fortuna Fine Arts, New York.
The Estate of Neil F. Phillips, Esq., Q.C.; Christie's, New York, 18 December 1997, lot 245.

Exhibited

New York, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, March 1995 - May 1997.

Lot Essay

A Baule earrings take their name from their resemblance to a small bag or valise, il baule in Italian. This pair displays the technical virtuosity of Etruscan jewelers. For a fine selection of a baule earrings see nos. 6-13 in Deppert-Lippitz, Ancient Gold Jewelry at the Dallas Museum of Art.

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