Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. A beautiful gold earring comprised of 92% gold (equivalent to 22K+) in the form of a standing winged cupid (erote) with an astonishing level of detail for his diminutive size. This figure is applied to a loop that would have once served as a clasp. In the Roman period, Cupid had become a child (in earlier Greek times, he was often a muscular youth), but he retains his mischievous air, ready to help couples fall in love through not-entirely-innocent interventions. The ancient earring has an added 18K gold finding. Size: 0.55" W (1.4 cm); ancient gold is 92% (equivalent to 22K+); total weight: 2.2 grams.
Gold is a rare find from the Roman Empire. As the Empire expanded, they gained access to mineral sources that allowed them to make rich gold items. Iberia was the major source of gold for the Romans, and there is widescale evidence for Roman mining of the region. Gold was also mined in Gaul and Britain, and, in some rare instances, imported from as far afield as India. However, the amount of gold available to the Romans was relatively small, and gold items are indicative of great wealth.
Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection
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#143017
Condition
Slight bending to form, especially the wings. The ancient clasping mechanism is not usable. Finding is modern. Details on ancient earring are very well preserved.