Earrings

Unknown

ca. 1st–2nd century A.D · Gold, garnet (pyrope) · Ancient Near Eastern Art

This gold earring is formed of a hoop with five circles inlaid with red glass or garnet and other vitreous material (only partially preserved) on both sides. Six conical pendants are suspended from eight loops below the circles (two pendants are missing). Parthian wealth obtained through lucrative trade networks resulted in substantial patronage of the arts and luxury goods including jewelry, often inlaid with semiprecious stones. In addition to surviving examples, representations of earrings, necklaces, bracelets and frontal bands appear in funerary portraits from Palmyra and statuary from Hatra.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 1st–2nd century A.D

Medium

Gold, garnet (pyrope)

Culture

Parthian

Department

Ancient Near Eastern Art

Credit line

Bequest of Lester Wolfe, 1983