Earring
Unknown Artist
4th century
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...