GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Toward the end of the 4th century BCE., new shapes and materials were introduced to Greek jewelry. The most ingenious innovation of the Greek goldsmiths of this period is the animal-head earring: a tapering, penannular hoop made of twisted wire with one terminal, and the larger end in the form of an animal's head. In this example, the earring features a hoop of spirally wound, heavy plain wire, and fine beaded wire tapers toward one end, while the other terminates in the head of a lion. The open mouth holds the small end of the hoop. The features of the lion's face are freely indicated. The mane is organized in two registers. An ornamental collar, composed of plain and beaded wire circlets and of pointed tongues embossed on a strip of sheet gold, joins the head and the hoop.
It has been assumed that this design derived from Etruscan lion-head earrings, represented by several examples seen in the collection of the Dallas Museum of Art (1991.75.27.a-b, 1991.75.28.a-b). But besides the fact that there is a gap of nearly 200 years between the Etruscan and these late Classical to early Hellenistic lion-head earrings, the similarities are superficial. It is more likely that the animal-head earring is a genuine Greek creation, inspired by a long-established type of Greek animal-head bracelet, like this lion-head bracelet (1991.75.52), also in the collection of the DMA.
Almost immediately after their introduction, animal-head earrings became the most popular type of ear ornament in the Greek world. The following two centuries saw a number of variations of the basic scheme. This pair represents a standard version, a type of which is found in all parts of the Hellenistic world.
Adapted from
Barbara Deppert-Lippitz, Ancient Gold Jewelry at the Dallas Museum of Art (Dallas: Dallas Museum of Art in association with the University of Washington Press, 1996), 62-63, 132.
NOTES
- entered publication as a text entry in TMS
- updated provenance and geo x ref
Cultures
Geography
Process/materials
Historical periods
Individuals
Subject terms
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
Until 1991: probably Collection of Dr. Athos Moretti, Switzerland (presented by Robert Haber, New York) [1]
From 1991: Dallas Museum of Art, The Eugene and Margaret McDermott Art Fund, Inc.
[1] based on existing provenance entry in TMS
AUDIO ASSETS
VIDEO ASSETS
IMAGE ASSETS
WEB RESOURCES
ARCHIVAL RESOURCES
FUN FACTS
- Lions were popular subjects in Greek jewelry; they symbolized fertility and regal power.
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Apply to objects where number equals 1991.75.58.a-b
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General Description
Toward the end of the 4th century BCE., new shapes and materials were introduced to Greek jewelry. The most ingenious innovation of the Greek goldsmiths of this period is the animal-head earring: a tapering, penannular hoop made of twisted wire with one terminal, and the larger end in the form of an animal's head. In this example, the earring features a hoop of spirally wound, heavy plain wire, and fine beaded wire tapers toward one end, while the other terminates in the head of a lion. The open mouth holds the small end of the hoop. The features of the lion's face are freely indicated. The mane is organized in two registers. An ornamental collar, composed of plain and beaded wire circlets and of pointed tongues embossed on a strip of sheet gold, joins the head and the hoop.
It has been assumed that this design derived from Etruscan lion-head earrings, represented by several examples seen in the collection of the Dallas Museum of Art (1991.75.27.a-b, 1991.75.28.a-b). But besides the fact that there is a gap of nearly 200 years between the Etruscan and these late Classical to early Hellenistic lion-head earrings, the similarities are superficial. It is more likely that the animal-head earring is a genuine Greek creation, inspired by a long-established type of Greek animal-head bracelet, like this lion-head bracelet (1991.75.52), also in the collection of the DMA.
Almost immediately after their introduction, animal-head earrings became the most popular type of ear ornament in the Greek world. The following two centuries saw a number of variations of the basic scheme. This pair represents a standard version, a type of which is found in all parts of the Hellenistic world.
Adapted from
Barbara Deppert-Lippitz, Ancient Gold Jewelry at the Dallas Museum of Art (Dallas: Dallas Museum of Art in association with the University of Washington Press, 1996), 62-63, 132.
Fun Facts
- Lions were popular subjects in Greek jewelry; they symbolized fertility and regal power.
Archival Resources
Web Resources
Notes
- entered publication as a text entry in TMS
- updated provenance and geo x ref
Cultures
Geography
Process/materials
Historical periods
Individuals
Subject terms
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
Until 1991: probably Collection of Dr. Athos Moretti, Switzerland (presented by Robert Haber, New York) [1]
From 1991: Dallas Museum of Art, The Eugene and Margaret McDermott Art Fund, Inc.
[1] based on existing provenance entry in TMS
AUDIO ASSETS
VIDEO ASSETS
rules
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Objects
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1991.75.58.a-b
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object_notes_3_c-0163.xml.nores