Greek, 5th-4th Century BC
Drop: 2.4 cm; Width: 2.1 cm; Depth: 0.5 cm
A pair of Achaemenid pennanular earrings, finely decorated with rows of granulation and filigree patterns creating cells for turquoise enamel inlays. The outside edges of the crescent plates lined with five rows of granulation, double rows at either side with a single row between. At the centre of the crescent a circular drum with enamelled rosette decoration framed by two rows of very fine twisted wire. Enamelled petals surround this central focal point, then framed by a row of tiny enamelled circles. This decorative motif repeated front and back. Plates of flat tongue-shaped gold seal the open ends of the crescent, original hinged hooks surviving.
Condition: Some of both the granulation and the enamelling is now lost. One fixing pin missing
Literature: Similar examples have been found in Cyprus, for example a pair (now lacking any enamel) in the collection of the British Museum (Inv. no. 1896,0201.138), though the form has a long tradition in the ancient Near East and Greek worlds back to the Early Bronze Age.
Provenance: Collection of Ernst Adler, UK acquired c. 1970 and thence by descent to Jan Adler, Brighton, Sussex
Greek, 5th-4th Century BC
Drop: 2.4 cm; Width: 2.1 cm; Depth: 0.5 cm
A pair of Achaemenid pennanular earrings, finely decorated with rows of granulation and filigree patterns creating cells for turquoise enamel inlays. The outside edges of the crescent plates lined with five rows of granulation, double rows at either side with a single row between. At the centre of the crescent a circular drum with enamelled rosette decoration framed by two rows of very fine twisted wire. Enamelled petals surround this central focal point, then framed by a row of tiny enamelled circles. This decorative motif repeated front and back. Plates of flat tongue-shaped gold seal the open ends of the crescent, original hinged hooks surviving.
Condition: Some of both the granulation and the enamelling is now lost. One fixing pin missing
Literature: Similar examples have been found in Cyprus, for example a pair (now lacking any enamel) in the collection of the British Museum (Inv. no. 1896,0201.138), though the form has a long tradition in the ancient Near East and Greek worlds back to the Early Bronze Age.
Provenance: Collection of Ernst Adler, UK acquired c. 1970 and thence by descent to Jan Adler, Brighton, Sussex
