Lot Essay
This pair is unusual in terms of size, condition, and the lavish ornament. For the type see pl. 17 in Deppert-Lippitz, Goldschmuck der Rmerzeit im Rmisch-Germanischen Zentralmuseum.
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SYRIA, CIRCA 2ND CENTURY A.D.
Details
A PAIR OF ROMAN GOLD AND GARNET EARRINGS
syria, circa 2nd century a.d.
Both boat-shaped, tapering at each end to wires which form the closure, with drop-shaped elements attached to the front, set with garnet and fringed with granulation, surmounted by a star-shaped granulated finial, with rigid pendants below composed of a cylinder adorned with crosshatching and vertical columns of hollow balls, joined to a cluster of large hollow balls, with bezel-set inverted drop-shaped garnets in between, the bezel in front somewhat larger and framed by wavy ribbon and small hollow balls, a ribbed cylinder below terminating in a large hollow ball adorned with filligree rings and wavy ribbon, with a cluster of small hollow balls at the base
2.13/16 in. (7.1 cm) long
syria, circa 2nd century a.d.
Both boat-shaped, tapering at each end to wires which form the closure, with drop-shaped elements attached to the front, set with garnet and fringed with granulation, surmounted by a star-shaped granulated finial, with rigid pendants below composed of a cylinder adorned with crosshatching and vertical columns of hollow balls, joined to a cluster of large hollow balls, with bezel-set inverted drop-shaped garnets in between, the bezel in front somewhat larger and framed by wavy ribbon and small hollow balls, a ribbed cylinder below terminating in a large hollow ball adorned with filligree rings and wavy ribbon, with a cluster of small hollow balls at the base
2.13/16 in. (7.1 cm) long