**Originally Listed At $700**

Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. Two different gold earrings - one comprised of 96% gold (equivalent to 22K+), the other comprised of 75% gold (equivalent to 18K) - each in the form of a winged cupid (erote). In the Roman period, Cupid had become a child (in earlier Greek times, he was often a muscular youth), but he retains his mischievous air, ready to help couples fall in love through not-entirely-innocent interventions. Size (they are approximately the same size): 0.9" W (2.3 cm); total weight is 2.9 grams

Gold is a rare find from the Roman Empire. As the Empire expanded, they gained access to mineral sources that allowed them to make rich gold items. Iberia was the major source of gold for the Romans, and there is widescale evidence for Roman mining of the region. Gold was also mined in Gaul and Britain, and, in some rare instances, imported from as far afield as India. However, the amount of gold available to the Romans was relatively small, and gold items are indicative of great wealth.

Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#143051

This is not a matched pair - although both depict Cupid, they have quite a different style. Both are intact but slightly bent. Could easily be made wearable by a jeweler.