Lot 326
326
A RARE PAIR OF SOUTH ITALIAN GOLD AND ENAMEL COCKEREL EARRINGS, the rosette disc composed of a central circular garnet set within a gold filigree border, below hangs a pendant figure of a cockerel in white enamel over a gold core, with head turned to one side, the eyes, beak, crest and tail feathers in thin sheet gold with gold wire details on the tail and forming the feet, on either side are two gold chains, the two outer chains decorated with three gold beads and terminating in a filigree flower bud, the two inner chains with smaller gold beads and flower bud, behind the disc a hook, one cockerel bound with gold wire which appears to be an ancient repair, circa 2nd Century B.C.

Details
A RARE PAIR OF SOUTH ITALIAN GOLD AND ENAMEL COCKEREL EARRINGS, the rosette disc composed of a central circular garnet set within a gold filigree border, below hangs a pendant figure of a cockerel in white enamel over a gold core, with head turned to one side, the eyes, beak, crest and tail feathers in thin sheet gold with gold wire details on the tail and forming the feet, on either side are two gold chains, the two outer chains decorated with three gold beads and terminating in a filigree flower bud, the two inner chains with smaller gold beads and flower bud, behind the disc a hook, one cockerel bound with gold wire which appears to be an ancient repair, circa 2nd Century B.C.
1 1/8in. (2.8cm.) long max. (2)

Lot Essay

Cf. de Juliis, nos. 83-86; Marshall, nos. 1677-1679, p. 182, pl. XXXI; R. A. Higgins, Greek and Roman Jewellery, London, 1961, pp. 167-168, pl. 48D; and J. Ogden, Jewellery of the Ancient World, London, 1982, pl. 20

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