Rosette
530 BC-500 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.
This is one of a pair of gold rosettes (museum number 8838-1863). It is decorated with granulation, where tiny spheres of gold are arranged in patterns on the surface. They are fixed to the background by an intricate process which creates a join without using solder.
This is one of a pair of gold rosettes (museum number 8838-1863). It is decorated with granulation, where tiny spheres of gold are arranged in patterns on the surface. They are fixed to the background by an intricate process which creates a join without using solder.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Gold, decorated with embossed work and granulation |
| Brief description | Disc earring, decorated with embossed gold work and granulation. Possibly made in Tuscany (Etruria), about 530-500 BC |
| Physical description | Gold, decorated with embossed work and granulation |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Production | Made in Etruria, the ancient state in west-central Italy which spread its civilization throughout Italy in the 6th century B.C. It is now part of modern Tuscany and Umbria. |
| Subject depicted | |
| 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. This is one of a pair of gold rosettes (museum number 8838-1863). It is decorated with granulation, where tiny spheres of gold are arranged in patterns on the surface. They are fixed to the background by an intricate process which creates a join without using solder. |
| Associated object | 8838-1863 (Set) |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 8839-1863 |
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| Record created | December 6, 2002 |
| Record URL |
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