Late Roman, Early Byzantine Gold Earrings with Pearls, Amethyst and Glass

Object Description

A striking pair of Late Roman, Early Byzantine gold earrings, each featuring a pearl setting and a long pendant, adorned with glass, pearls, and amethysts. Each earring consists of a thin, gold wire hoop, terminating in a tapering point on one end and a spherical bead on the other. To the front, the earring has been decorated with a pierced pearl, suspended by a horizontal gold wire and further held in place by an encircling hoop. On both earrings, long pendants hang from figure-of-eight connection pieces, dangling from gold rings attached behind and below the pearls. The pendant begins with a suspension loop at the top, leading a small, spherical gold element. Directly below, a conical gold bead widens to a circular bezel, which is set with a glass cabochon. A central, tear-drop shaped bead is attached to the bottom of the conical bead. From this, a long wire extends downwards and terminates in a small loop. It holds in place a small pearl and a large, tear-drop shaped amethyst, both pierced for suspension. The gemstones feature a flat reverse, gently convex obverse, a beautiful translucency, and a deep purple colouring with natural striations of paler hues. The pearls on both the main earrings and the pendants have developed a beautiful silvery iridescence to the surface.

Date: Circa 4th-6th Century AD

Object Condition

Very fine condition. Slight encrustation and signs of wear as consistent with age, such as some warping, minor indentations, and chipping, particularly to the amethysts. The glass inset on one of the pendants is now missing. Part of the amethyst pendant on one earring has been chipped at the bottom and is now missing. One of the pearls set on the gold hoop has been fixed in place, as part of the suspending gold wire is now missing, with some glue remnants still visible to the surface. Some tarnishing and discolouration.

Object Details