Ancient Roman Jewelry

128 ROMAN GOLD EARRINGS
II-III c. A.D.
Solid round wire hoop with freely moving pendant and hoop and hook fastener. Round, slightly convex shield edged with beaded wire and granulated pyramid in the center. The pendant consists of a ribbed suspension loop, long hollow cylinder with horizontal fluting and granulated pyramid. 35 mm.
For similar earrings see: Ruseva-Prokoska L. Roman jewelry. A Collection of National Archaeological Museum-Sofia, Sofia, 1991, cat. # 31-35.
SOLD

193 SARMATIAN GOLD AND CARNELIAN EARRINGS
I - first half of II c. A.D.
Carnelian bead with vertical hole enclosed within two truncated cones with wound wire bands. They are soldered to cylinders, one of which is joined to the truncated cone at the opposite end; another one joined to a bi-conical hollow bead. At the top cylinder there are three long, wire volutes with free moving loop-in-loop chains terminated by blue glass beads. The gold wire axle pin goes through all of the parts, starting at the bottom of the bi-conical bead and at the top penetrates the cap, coils around the suspension loop where the free ended ear wire goes through. 46 mm.
For similar earrings see : Baumann F. Aus den Schatzkammern Eurasiens. Meisterwerke antiker Kunst. Kunsthaus Zürich. 1993, cat.139. Musche, B., Vorderasatischen Schmuck zur Zeit der Arsakiden und der Sasaniden, in: Handbuch der Orientalistik, 7. Abtlg., 1.Bd.,2. Abschn. 5, hrsg. v. Stargardt, J.- Hrounda, B., Leiden 1988, S. 96-106, Taf. 18-20.
SOLD

137 ROMAN GOLD EARRINGS
III c. A.D.
S-shaped hoop with bent tip; The other end of the hoop flattened and perforated, protrudes below the six-petals rosette shield. Horizontal flat bar with projecting and perforated ends soldered to the back of the shield and under the hoop. The side pendants made of rectangular cross-section wire with suspended discs. The central pendant made of rectangular cross-section wire with suspended disc and blue glass bead enclosed in caps, decorated with dots and lines in relief. 38 mm.
$ 925

138 ROMAN GOLD EARRINGS
III c. A.D.
Plain hoop and hook fastener. Hoop made of one spirally twisted rectangular cross section wire with tapering ends of round cross-section: one end forming a hook; the other end flattened and soldered to the shield. A teardrop garnet (fragment of intaglio) inlay in a box setting, bordered by beaded wire. 23 mm.
SOLD

141 ROMAN GOLD EARRINGS
II-III c. A.D.
Hoop consists of two thick wires, twisted in opposite directions forming a “braid”. Their ends have been hammered together to form single, round cross section wires, tapering at both ends: one is forming a loop with spirally twisted end in two coils, the other one forming a hook. L. 22 mm.
SOLD

152 ROMAN GOLD EARRINGS
II-III c. A.D.
Beaded, hooked ear wire soldered to a triangle shield with beaded wire frame. Additional beaded wire and granulation around a triangular garnet bezel-set in the center. Solid wire with three blue glass beads suspended from the bottom corner of the shield. L. 41 mm.
SOLD

201 ROMAN GOLD EARRING
II-III c. A.D.
Tapering tubular hoop ending in round wires. One is forming a loop with spirally twisted end in three coils, the other one forming a hook. L. 17 mm.
For the same type see: Davidson P. F. Ancient Greek and Roman jewelry in The Brooklyn Museum, 1984, cat. # 168-181; Rudolph W. A golden legacy. Ancient jewelry from the B.Y. Berry collection at the Indiana University Art Museum, 1995, cat. #63B
SOLD

623 ROMAN GOLD EARRING
I-II c. A.D.
The hemispherical sheet-gold shield soldered to s-shaped hook, made of round wire, with tapering end. 10 x 9 mm.
For the same type see: Allen Memorial Art Museum. Bulletin. Vol. XVII, Ohio, p.149. Ruseva-Prokoska L. Roman jewelry. A Collection of National Archaeological Museum-Sofia, Sofia, 1991, cat. 43a.
$ 250

202 ROMAN GOLD EARRING
I-III c. A.D.
Ellipsoid hoop made of spirally twisted wire, rectangular in cross section, tapering and ending in round wires. One is forming a loop with spirally twisted end in three coils, the other one forming a hook. 17 x 17 mm.
For the same hoop type see: Ruseva-Prokoska L. Roman jewelry. A Collection of National Archaeological Museum-Sofia, Sofia, 1991, cat. # 20.
SOLD

203 ROMAN GOLD EARRING
II-III c. A.D.
Gradually tapering hoop ending in round wire, forming a hook. The other end was flattened and penetrated to form a slot for a hook to pass through. 16 x 16 mm.
For the same type see: "Ancient Greek and Roman jewelry in The Brooklyn Museum" by P. F. Davidson, 1984, cat. # 147
SOLD

551 ROMAN GOLD RING
III-IV c. A.D.
Round hoop consisting of five wires: two beaded wires in the periphery; two flat wires linked with u-shaped ornament of flat wire in between. High box-type shield decorated with beaded wire band. Round blue-glass cabochon with engraved image of a standing animal (horse?). Thick layer of rainbow iridescence on the glass. Traces of ancient wear. 29 x 24 mm.
For the same type see: Ruseva-Prokoska L. Roman jewelry. A Collection of National Archaeological Museum-Sofia, Sofia, 1991, cat. # 178. Marshall F.N. Cataloque of the finger rings, Greeks, Etruscan, and Roman, in the Departments of Antiquities, British Museum, 1968, cat. 558.
$ 2000

552 ROMAN GOLD AND SILVER RING
IV c. A.D.
Ellipsoid hoop, made of a flat silver band, slightly rounded on the outside, progressively widening towards the rounded bezel. High gold shield with twisted wire boarder, blue glass inlay in box setting . Ω-shaped beaded wire is soldered to each shoulder. Traces of ancient wear. 27 x 24 mm.
For the same type shoulder decoration see: Hackens. T. Cataloque of the Classical Collection. Classical Jewelry. Rhode Island, 1976, cat.69.
$ 1200

380 ROMAN GARNET AND GOLD RING
I c. A.D.
Hollow hoop, rounded on the outside, expanding into oval bezel with convex garnet intaglio depicting female portrait bust right with hair knotted behind.
20 x 16 mm.
SOLD

158 ROMAN GOLD RING
III c. A.D.
Hoop formed from a flat, gold strip with overlapping ends, widening towards the horizontally protruding shoulders. Round shield with mosaic glass inlay in box setting with twisted wire boarder. Slightly deformed. 12 x 13 mm.
SOLD

159 ROMAN GOLD RING
III century A.D.
Hoop formed from a flat, gold strip with overlapping ends, widening towards the shoulders, forming a rectangular plate. The hoop is slightly deformed.
18 x 17 mm.
For the same type see: Ruseva-Prokoska L. Roman jewelry. A Collection of National Archaeological Museum-Sofia, Sofia, 1991, cat. # 187.
SOLD

160 ROMAN GOLD RING
IV c. A.D.
Round hoop consisting of three wires soldered to the flat strip; two spirally twisted wires, with one round wire between them. Garnet cabochon set in round box-type shield with thick beaded wire band. The hoop and shield were made separately and soldered together. Half of the twisted wire on one side is lost. 18 x 24 mm.
For the same type see: Ruseva-Prokoska L. Roman jewelry. A Collection of National Archaeological Museum-Sofia, Sofia, 1991, cat. # 221.
$ 775

162 ROMAN GOLD RING
III- IV c. A.D.
Round hoop consisting of five wires: the central and outside wires are beaded wires with spirally twisted wires in between. All wires are soldered to a flat strip. Dark glass cameo with two confronted busts set in oval box-type shield with two beaded wires on the side and large granules in between. Shoulders are decorated with triangular clusters of granulation. The hoop and the shield made separately and soldered together. 24 x 24 mm.
For the general type see: Ruseva-Prokoska L. Roman jewelry. A Collection of National Archaeological Museum-Sofia, Sofia, 1991, cat. # 221.
$ 2250
SOLD

191 ROMAN GOLD RING
III c. A.D.
Hoop formed of a flat gold strip with overlapping ends, widening towards the trapeziform shoulders. Rectangular shield with clear colorless glass inlay in box setting and twisted wire boarder. Slightly deformed. 20 x 23 mm.
SOLD

694 ROMAN GOLD BRACELET
II-III c. A.D.
Solid round hoop with rectangular cross section, spirally twisted; hammered flat at one end with a round opening, other end tapered and forming a hook.
2.5"x 2.5"(6.4 x 6.3 cm).
$ 850

369 ROMAN ROCK CRYSTAL AND GOLD PENDANT
II c. A.D.
Small ellipsoid rim turned inward; conical bezel-setting containing a conical rock crystal gem. Flat intaglio depicts iunctio dextrarum, ears of wheat, poppy above and cornucopia from both sides. 6 x 16 x 18 mm.
SOLD

367 ROMAN CARNELIAN AND GOLD PENDANT
II c. A.D.
Convex carnelian set in oval box-type shield with beaded wire band. Ribbed wide loop soldered to the back and folded over. Intaglio depicts two opposing standing Victorias with wreath in their outstretched hands over altar.
16 x 15 mm.
SOLD

366 ROMAN CARNELIAN AND GOLD PENDANT
II c. A.D.
Flat carnelian set in oval box-type shield with twisted wire boarder. Ribbed wide loop soldered to the back and folded over. Intaglio depicts standing figure of Fortuna. Wearing chiton, holding cornucopia in her left hand and ears of wheat in right hand. Ship’s rudder by her right leg. 13 x 16 mm.
SOLD

368 ROMAN ROCK CRYSTAL AND GOLD PENDANT
II c. A.D.
Convex rock crystal set in oval box-type shield with twisted wire boarder. Ribbed wide loop soldered to the back and folded over. Intaglio unconventionally faces gold background. Depicts two figures : Minerva standing to front with spear in right hand, shield by her feet and helmet in left hand; Fortuna stands to right holding cornucopia in her left hand and rudder in her right. Lateral crack. 18 x 20 mm.
SOLD

136 SARMATIAN GOLD PENDANT
II-I c. B.C.
Disc is framed by a border of two twisted wires, simulating a braid. Ribbed loop soldered to the back, folded over with free end at the front. The repousse bust represents Cybele. Her hair falls in long curls along the neck and shoulders. Face features are shown schematically. She is wearing a vertically ribbed polos with serrated top; chiton with parallel angular draperies, necklace above; himation over her shoulders. Two rosettes on the background. 32 mm.
For similar iconography see: Rudolph W. A golden legacy. Ancient jewelry from the B.Y. Berry collection at the Indiana University Art Museum, 1995, cat. # 60D.
SOLD

130 ROMAN GOLD AND GARNET PENDANT
III c. A.D.
Oval garnet cabochon set in bezel with open work periphery. Ribbed wide loop soldered to the back, folded over, with free end at the front. 19 x 21 mm.
For the same open work periphery see: Ruseva-Prokoska L. Roman jewelry. A Collection of National Archaeological Museum-Sofia, Sofia, 1991, cat. # 109.
SOLD

625 ROMAN GOLD AND GLASS PENDANT
I c. A.D.
Suspension loop made of double grooved strip soldered to round horizontal plate with beaded wire border. Tubular vertical part decorated with four triangular clusters of granulation under beaded wire border. Blue-glass bead strung lengthwise with a strip-twisted wire ending in a small twist with gold bead.
28 x 11 mm.
This type of gold piece is typically used as a termination in necklaces or bracelets. This particular combination illustrates possible alternative uses.
SOLD

200 ROMAN GOLD PENDANT
II c. A.D.
Oval, die formed sheet is depicting figure of nude Eros with outstretched wings framed by a doted double boarder. Ribbed loop soldered to the back, folded over with single granule on the front. 20 mm.
SOLD

127 Roman GOLD roundel
I c. B.C.- I c. A.D.
Disk shows a seated eagle with his head right in repousse. There is a border of one spool wire and two round wires simulating a braid. Two diametrically opposed loop attachments are soldered to the back. 38 mm.
For similar roundels see: Davidson P. F. Ancient Greek and Roman jewelry in The Brooklyn Museum, 1984, cat. # 235.
SOLD

624 ROMAN GOLD PENDANT
I c. A.D.
Suspension loop made of grooved strip soldered to round horizontal plate with granulation along perimeter. Tubular vertical part articulated by horizontal ribs suspending an aquamarine in its natural crystal form. 24 x 6 mm.
This type of gold piece is typically used as a termination in necklaces or bracelets. This particular combination illustrates possible alternative uses. See Ogden J. Ancient Jewellery, 1992, p.36 on use of natural crystal forms in antiquity.
SOLD

370   ROMAN GOLD EYE-PLATES AND MOUTH PLATE
         II-III c. A.D.
         EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN
Sheet-gold plaque, hammered over a matrix, with a border of repousse dots anThe lines. Additionally for each eye-plate, pupils in the form of tragic masks in higher relief. 31 x 58 mm for mouth piece.
For the same type see: Davis-Kimball J. Nomads of Eurasian Steppes in the Early Iron Age, Zinat Press, Berkeley, CA, 1995, pg. 77; Allen Memorial Art Museum. Bulletin. Vol. XVII, Ohio, p.230; Rudolph W. A golden legacy. Ancient jewelry from the B.Y. Berry collection at the Indiana University Art Museum, 1995, cat.33.C.1-2.
$ 875

371   ROMAN GOLD MOUTH PLATE
         II-III c. A.D.
         EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN
Sheet-gold plaque, with a border of repousse dots and lines.
34 x 68 mm.
For the same type see: Davis-Kimball J. Nomads of Eurasian Steppes in the Early Iron Age, Zinat Press, Berkeley, CA, 1995, pg. 77; Rudolph W. A golden legacy. Ancient jewelry from the B.Y. Berry collection at the Indiana University Art Museum, 1995, cat.33.C.1-2.
$ 375