Byzantine Gold Openwork Beads from Earrings

10TH-11TH CENTURY A.D.

7/8 in. (13.8 grams, 22 mm each).

Each a spherical cage with ropework texturing, a granule at each node; oval glass bead within. [2]

Provenance

Acquired on the Swiss art market, 1998.
Private collection, Europe.

Literature

Cf. for similar specimens inserted within a complete earring, Niederle, L., Příspěvky k vývoji byzantských šperků ze IV. - X. Století (Contributions to the development of Byzantine jewellery from the IV. - 10th century), Praha, 1930, fig.66.

Footnotes

The openwork beads were prepared to be inserted in an earring of ‘Grapevine’ typology, III type of earring in the Niederle classification. Similar specimens, imported from Byzantium, were found in Tokaj (Hungary) and dated to the time of the Emperor Romanus Lekapenos (920-944 A.D.).

CONDITION

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LOT 0187