A PAIR OF MEDIEVAL GOLD POLYHEDRAL GOLD BEADS, with applied filigree decoration and set with garnets and turquoise, now threaded as pendants on a pair of Roman tapered hoop earrings, each with large frontal gold grain, the beads circa 10th-12th Century A.D., the hoops with their wire pendants Roman circa 2nd Century A.D.

Details

A PAIR OF MEDIEVAL GOLD POLYHEDRAL GOLD BEADS, with applied filigree decoration and set with garnets and turquoise, now threaded as pendants on a pair of Roman tapered hoop earrings, each with large frontal gold grain, the beads circa 10th-12th Century A.D., the hoops with their wire pendants Roman circa 2nd Century A.D.
2in. (5.1cm.) long max. (2)

Lot Essay

The polyhedral beads recall Fatamid Islamic forms, but the use of set stones would be unusual here. European antecedents might be seen in some Dark Age European ornaments, such as a pin-head now in Florence, cf., Florence 1990, no. 180

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