Near East, Byzantine Empire, ca. 10th to 12th century CE. Two beautiful, matched earrings, composed of a spherical ball bisected by a rope work pattern and suspended from the center of a curved silver wire with a narrow opening on one side for attachment to the ear. The earrings are gilded, with much of the gilding remaining on the balls, especially around the rope work. They are fragile but wearable. Size of each one: 1.5" W (3.8 cm); displayed together on an included custom stand as shown in the photos: 3.5" H (8.9 cm); 9.9 grams total weight.

During the 7th to 9th centuries, the Byzantine Empire was in a state of economic and social crisis, repeatedly rocked by invasions, plagues, famines, and other disasters - a time period often called "The Dark Ages". Emerging from that period, it seems that the people of the Byzantine Empire wished to flaunt their wealth and embellish themselves with beautiful things. For example, in excavations of Byzantine graves from this period at Thessaloniki, jewelry like these earrings are found in great quantity in the graves of women. These would have been treasured items for a person living in this optimistic, dynamic time.

Provenance: private New York, USA collection; ex collection of A. T., Munich, Germany, acquired in 1985

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#128907

Areas of gilding remain. Both are intact.