J12

Anatolian Late Bronze Age sheet gold earrings.

£350

A pair of earrings constructed with a bronze or copper core and covered in a thick sheet of decorated gold.

The surface of each earring has been made to imitate the image of thick gold wires wrapped around a pin and crossing each other in the middle. This was presumably done to copy earrings of a similar pattern but constructed from solid gold. An interesting and very early example of a jeweller's innovation in order to provide a pair of gold earrings at a lower price than his competitors.

Anatolia (modern Turkey), Late Bronze Age, circa 14th Century BC.

This period of Anatolia's rich ancient history is most famed for the city of Troy, the scene of Homer's Iliad. These earrings are of a similar design to jewellery which would have been worn by Trojans of this period.

Size: 1.7 x 1.4 x 0.6 cms each.

Intact , some corrosion from the core showing through in places. These could be made wearable with the attachment of modern gold hoops.

Ex. Private collection, Notting Hill, London.