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[One of a] Pair of openwork crescent earrings
Byzantine
6th- 7th century A.D.
Medium/Technique
Gold
Dimensions
5.4 x 5 cm (2 1/8 x 1 15/16 in.)
Credit Line
Edwin E. Jack Fund
Accession Number1977.177
CollectionsEurope, Jewelry, Ancient Greece and Rome
ClassificationsJewelry / Adornment – Earrings, flares, plugs, studs
DescriptionThe design is straight-forward consisting of a central roundel with a small bird in a frame of finer punched dots flanked by two larger birds, one on each side held by a wreath-like border of two narrow bands of punched dots with a heart-shape leaf garland in the middle. The bird in the central rounder has a flower in its beak. The larger birds are in profile facing outwards, one on each side. Birds might be doves or peacocks due their long tails.
Technique: The outer circumference of the rather large crescent-shape earrings, except for where the hoops are attached, is edged with a narrow strip of sheet gold holding 9 hollow beads. The tapering wire hoops have hooked clasps. The denser openwork design in the crescents is chisel-cut and pierced, retaining more of the gold sheet (please, check the technique).All three birds are carefully rendered with their heads, bodies and wings distinct through very effective chasing and other chisel work.
Technique: The outer circumference of the rather large crescent-shape earrings, except for where the hoops are attached, is edged with a narrow strip of sheet gold holding 9 hollow beads. The tapering wire hoops have hooked clasps. The denser openwork design in the crescents is chisel-cut and pierced, retaining more of the gold sheet (please, check the technique).All three birds are carefully rendered with their heads, bodies and wings distinct through very effective chasing and other chisel work.
Provenance1977, sold by Münzen und Medaillen A.G., Basel, to the MFA . (Accession Date: May 11, 1977)