Earring

Unknown Artist

4th century

Earring by Unknown Artist

Medium

Copper alloy

Dimensions

Overall: 1 3/4 x 1 7/8 x 1/2 in. (4.4 x 4.8 x 1.2 cm)

Classification

Metalwork-Bronze

Culture

Late Roman

Department

Medieval Art

Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY

Credit

Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917

Accession Number

17.193.257

Art Historical Context

This delicate copper alloy earring, crafted in the 4th during the Late Roman period, exemplifies the refined metalwork of Late Antiquity. Measuring just 1 3/4 x 1 7/8 x 1/2 inches, its petite scale suggests it was designed for everyday adornment, highlighting the Romans' appreciation for intricate personal jewelry. Made from a durable copper alloy—often akin to bronze—this piece reflects accessible yet skilled craftsmanship, likely produced through casting or hammering techniques common in Roman workshops. In the waning years of the Roman Empire, earrings served both aesthetic and social purp...

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