Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. A pair of 14 karat earrings with a pretty, unique design. Thin gold plaques with granulated and low relief patterns have at their rounded centers disc-shaped pearls with gold pins holding them in place. Although it is obviously anachronistic, the shape of the plaque with the pearl looks like a mantle clock (they remind me of Cogsworth from "Beauty and the Beast"). Hanging from the lower part of the plaque are two thin, gold wires with a round gold bead and a round glass bead on each. These earrings would have belonged to a high status Roman woman. Size: 1.375" L x .5" W (3.5 cm x 1.3 cm), 4.5 grams

Roman women - especially of the upper classes - had their ears pierced and wore one set of earrings. Jewelry was particularly important to women in Roman society because it was legally their own property, independent of their husband's wealth, and they could use it as they saw fit.

Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection

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#127436

Patina on all surfaces, with irisdescent patina on the glass beads, especially on one. Hooks are present and intact but would probably need to be reinforced by a master jeweler to become wearable.