Earring, 3rd century CE

  • Roman

Gold

  • Overall: 2 3/8 × 15/16 × 7/8 inches (6 × 2.4 × 2.2 cm)

City of Detroit Purchase

27.275.B

On View

  • Ancient Greek and Roman, Level 2, South

Department

Greco-Roman and Ancient European

Ancient gold jewelry was generally formed from thin sheets of gold, rather than solid gold. By this method, the maximum effect could be achieved using the minimum amount of a precious and expensive material. These earrings are formed of a hollow oval that conceals the ear loop behind it. They have as pendants stylized clusters of hollow grapes ornamented with very small gold granules. The geometric grape design in many variations was popular throughout the Roman Empire in the second and third centuries.

(R. V. D. Magoffin)

1927-present, purchase by the Detroit Institute of Arts (Detroit, Michigan, USA)

Henshaw, Julia P., ed. A Visitors Guide: The Detroit Institute of Arts (Detroit 1995), p. 119 (ill.).

Roman, Earring, 3rd century CE, gold. Detroit Institute of Arts, City of Detroit Purchase, 27.275.B.