Earring
400 BC-300 BC (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
In central Italy, the artistic imagination of the Etruscan jewellers was at its height between 700 and 400 BC. Trade with the East played a decisive role in the economic power of the Etruscans and influenced the design of their jewellery. Etruscan goldsmiths were highly skilled, particularly in their use of granulation (powder-like gold grains used ornamentally) and filigree (fine wires). Motifs such as acorns, lotus, palmettes, sphinxes and lions were foreign imports but there were also local types, such as the bag-shaped (a baule) and grape-cluster (a grapollo) earrings.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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Materials and techniques | Gold, chased |
Brief description | Pair of gold earrings, decorated with chased palmettes and hung with corded rings, one set with a garnet, northern Italy (Tuscany or Umbria), Etruscan, 400-300 BC |
Physical description | Pair of gold earrings, decorated with chased palmettes and hung with corded rings. One earring is set with a garnet, probably a later addition. |
Style | |
Object history | Webb Collection |
Summary | In central Italy, the artistic imagination of the Etruscan jewellers was at its height between 700 and 400 BC. Trade with the East played a decisive role in the economic power of the Etruscans and influenced the design of their jewellery. Etruscan goldsmiths were highly skilled, particularly in their use of granulation (powder-like gold grains used ornamentally) and filigree (fine wires). Motifs such as acorns, lotus, palmettes, sphinxes and lions were foreign imports but there were also local types, such as the bag-shaped (a baule) and grape-cluster (a grapollo) earrings. |
Collection | |
Accession number | 8746-1863, 8758-1863 |
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Record created | April 11, 2005 |
Record URL |
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