Description:

Ancient Near East, Lydia, Achaemenid Persian Empire, ca. 5th to 4th century BCE. An opulent pair of 22K+ gold (94% gold) hoop earrings, each one composed of hollow spheres alternating with granulated rings and terminating with an elegant hemisphere at each end joined to a hinged ear wire. Size: .875" in diameter (2.2 cm). Total weight: 5.5 grams.

The Achaemenid love of silver and gold was famous throughout the ancient world. Plato wrote of how the acquisition of gold and silver was considered a virtue while Alcibiades, another Athenian, wrote of the enormous wealth in gold and silver that the Persians had. In a society where the elite displayed their wealth via such baubles, these earrings would have been prized possessions, demonstrating the high social status of their wearer!

Provenance: ex Shlomo Moussaieff Collection, 1948 - 2000, acquired at Gorny & Mosch, Auction 260, Lot 270. Exported with the permit of the Israeli Antiquities Authority.

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#151314

  • Condition: A few minor indentations to the granules/spheres. The hinges on these earwires do not move freely; however, these could be fitted with a modern setting to make wearable.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

Shipping

Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense

February 27, 2020 8:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 24.5% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000