Roman Gold Earring Pair with Gemstone Drops

Fragments of wall plaster with rendered surface painted with mainly red, pale blue and white detailing; some with impression of timber laths to the reverse. 4.95 kg total, 6-10.4 cm



Acquired in the 19th century. Ex Jeger collection, Switzerland. UK gallery, early 2000s.

These small fragments, with analogies with fragments from Pompeii, seem to belong to the second style of Roman painting, red panels representing highlights and shadows, decorated with vegetal interlaces. Some panels were probably framed by a red grenade fillet. A fragment shows alternate blue and red colours over a cream background, possibly pertinent to a socle.

Comprising a tapering body with a Corinthian capital finial, a standing female figure atop the capital, dressed in long robes. 16 grams, 98 mm



Acquired in the 1980s. Private collection, Switzerland, thence by descent. Private collection, since the late 1990s.

The pin seems to belong to the group 18 of the Cool's classification. The treatment of the figures in these pins varies greatly, including both the very 'Celtic' looking face on a pin from Cirencester and a Graeco-Roman figure type of Venus standing on a Corinthian capital from London. This great diversity of treatments clearly suggests that these pins were the occasional products of a wide variety of workshops.

With domed body and flat base, tall neck with trumpet-shaped mouth and rolled rim. 236 grams, 93 mm



From a London, UK, collection of glass, 1970-2000s.