Roman Dangle Drop Fancy Ornate Earrings 2L

Tiny Spheres of Gold: Roman Dangle Earrings

Clusters of tiny gold globules cover each drop in patterns that glint as you turn your head. These Roman dangle earrings are 2 in long and 3/4 in wide. They are costume jewelry made from ancient models.

The granulation gold earrings of Rome inspired the pattern. The globules are set in a variety of designs across the surface.

Product Details

• Material: 24K gold plate over pewter
• Posts: Sterling silver
• Dimensions: 0.75 in W x 2 in L
• Style: Ornate dangle earrings in a granulated pattern
• Origin: Made in USA

What Granulation Is

Granulation covers metal with tiny spheres. Goldsmiths made the grains by melting snippets or rings of wire. Then they fused each grain onto the surface.

The technique may have started in Sumer about 5,000 years ago. Etruscan and Greek goldsmiths later made it famous. Granulation gold earrings still look hard to make.

Roman Examples at the Met

The Met owns a Roman gold earring of the second or third century AD. It has clustered spheres and pyramidal granulation. Another pair from Roman Egypt has granulated triangles arranged in a crescent.

Ancient Roman earrings like these show how much Romans loved bright, busy surfaces. Ornate dangle earrings were a Roman habit.

Sophistication in Small Parts

Look at the spacing of the globules. Rows alternate with small groups. The pattern changes as the eye moves down the drop. Ornate dangle earrings like these reward a close look.

Wearing and Display

Sterling silver posts make the Roman dangle earrings comfortable for most ears. Wear them with hair swept back. Wipe them with a soft cloth.

Granulation gold earrings catch light at every turn. Ancient Roman earrings suit a quiet dress best. See more in our Museum Jewelry Earrings.

About Roman Jewelry

Roman jewelers inherited skills from the Greeks and Etruscans. They also drew on gold and gems from across the Empire. The Roman dangle earrings follow that mixed tradition. Ornate dangle earrings like these keep one corner of it.

For More Reading from the Web

• See a Roman gold earring from the second or third century AD. Roman dangle earrings like this pair take their ornament from earrings like it. Gold Earring with Clustered Spheres and Pyramidal Granulation - The Metropolitan Museum of Art