Byzantine Gold Earrings, 10th-12th Century
With sapphires, turquoise, amethyst and pearls
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With sapphires, turquoise, amethyst and pearls
Ruby and diamond necklace and earrings by Cartier of London, 1954.
The parure, consisting of earrings and a necklace with a detachable brooch, is made of Burmese rubies and diamonds set in platinum.
Kittyinva: 1920′s c. Diamond earrings in 14 K white gold featuring a center diamond framed by four French-cut sapphires. Open filigree work and hand-applied mille grain beading throughout. From Beacon Hill Jewelers.
Sapphire Parure of the Marie-Louise Empress of France, who was born an Archduchess of Austria
source http://royal-magazin.de/
A pair of gold earrings with garnets and pearls, Roman, 2nd century AD
from The Walters Art Museum
A pair of gold earrings with central shield decorated with bead wire to the edges; within each shield a series of loops bordered by bead wire; to the center a rosette consisting of four layers of petals with concave centers and with bead wire edges, with central bead; to the edge of each shield a series of heart-shaped leaves and two layer rosettes with acanthus leaf ornament to the center; from each smaller rosette a miniature figure of a goddess with hands to breasts and wearing a sheath dress; from the central acanthus leaf is an inverted pyramid pendant with miniature rosettes to each corner and bead wire edge with loops below; to each face of the pyramid a palmette motif in bead wire; granule beads to the base of each pyramid; from each of the heart-shaped leaves on the shield a loop in loop chain joined at the bottom by a rosette from which hangs a ribbed seed-like pendant; wire loop to the back. 29.93 grams total, 65mm (2 ½")
Disc and pyramid earrings are widely found throughout the Greek world: in addition to the East Greek examples, they have been discovered in the North Pontic region, on Cyprus, in Greece and in South Italy. The East Greek jewelers seem to have been particularly fond of pendants in the form of Nikai, Erotes and female figures.
The small pendant images on this earring bear similarities to motifs associated with the so called ‘bee goddess’ that was popular in Asia Minor and referred to as “The Pure Mother Bee” in ancient Greece. Honey was regarded as an elixir in Mediterranean societies; a magic potion that ensured a long and healthy life. In addition to being an elixir, honey was a healing substance with a variety of medicinal uses due to its antiseptic qualities.
Ancient Greek gold and garnet earrings, dated to the 4th century BCE.
Circa 1830, belonging to Empress Ekaterina II of Russia