1991.75.31, Central ornament of a diadem or necklace, Etruria, 5th century B.C.E., gold, stone(?)


GENERAL DESCRIPTION  
This Etruscan ornament consists of an oval box setting and two winged heads of portrait heads with African headdresses in repoussé relief and probably adorned a diadem or a necklace. The three elements are held together by elaborate hinges with fine moldings and hinge pins that terminate on both ends in hollow globules. The box setting, which holds a pale stone or paste, has a beaded edging of alternating hollow globules and circlets made of granules. Attached to the heads, on top, are elongated hollow tubes, which give the appearance of cylindrical crowns. Each tube is decorated with encircling plain and twisted wires and hollow half globules in two registers. At the ends of the tubes are tongues, each framed with a plain wire. Attached to each head, on either side of the crown, are large, sickle-shaped, repoussé wings with engraved feathers. The backs of the heads and wings are flat, while the tubes are fully in the round. 

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), 131.

NOTES
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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
  • Jewelry was far more than merely ornament to the Etruscans; it was often close to being a magic charm or amulet and implied the protection of the gods.

TEACHING IDEAS

RULES
Apply to objects where number equals 1991.75.31








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General Description
 
This Etruscan ornament consists of an oval box setting and two winged heads of portrait heads with African headdresses in repoussé relief and probably adorned a diadem or a necklace. The three elements are held together by elaborate hinges with fine moldings and hinge pins that terminate on both ends in hollow globules. The box setting, which holds a pale stone or paste, has a beaded edging of alternating hollow globules and circlets made of granules. Attached to the heads, on top, are elongated hollow tubes, which give the appearance of cylindrical crowns. Each tube is decorated with encircling plain and twisted wires and hollow half globules in two registers. At the ends of the tubes are tongues, each framed with a plain wire. Attached to each head, on either side of the crown, are large, sickle-shaped, repoussé wings with engraved feathers. The backs of the heads and wings are flat, while the tubes are fully in the round. 

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), 131.

Fun Facts
  • Jewelry was far more than merely ornament to the Etruscans; it was often close to being a magic charm or amulet and implied the protection of the gods.

Archival Resources

Web Resources
 
Notes
READ

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
Apply To
Objects
number
Equals
1991.75.31
tags
#draft
#completed
%copyedited_Gail
*Classical Art
@Bowling
necklaces: AAT: 300046001
%Archived
jewelry: AAT: 300209286
metalwork: AAT: 300015336
goldwork: AAT: 300044045
gold (metal): AAT: 300011021
diadems (headbands): AAT: 300046021
metalworking: AAT: 300053946
ancient (style and period): AAT: 300106711
goldsmithing: AAT: 300054048
Etruscan (culture or style): AAT: 300020471
granulation: AAT: 300054021
wirework: AAT: 300044077
Africa (continent): TGN: 7001242
source file
object_notes_2_b-0091.xml.nores