1991.75.74.1.A-B, Pair of ear pendants with Nike figures, Greece, early 2nd century B.C.E., gold

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

In contrast to Greek animal-head earrings (1991.75.62.a-b, 1991.75.63.a-b) created in the late 4th century BCE, the equally popular pendant earrings already had a long history by that time. The earliest examples date to the 6th century BCE. In the 4th century BCE, when the type enjoyed its principal vogue, pieces became more and more elaborate and enriched. During the following two centuries, the basic scheme remained unchanged: a decorative disk hides the ear wire and supports a pointed pendant. This simple scheme allowed numerous elaborations.

In this elaborate pair, each ear pendant consists of a central rosette and a decorative border crowned by a palmette, with a heart-shaped empty box setting. Suspended to the disk is a large pendant in the form of a winged female figure, a striding Nike who stands on a square base, flanked by multicolored beaded tassels: several chains with coiled wire and colored beads made from green glass, garnet, and carnelian. One figure is turned to the right, the other to the left. On the figure facing right, the chiton falls over the right shoulder and opens on the same side. The arrangement is reversed on the other figure. Pointed wings are attached behind the shoulders. This pair of ear pendants was allegedly found with a plaque depicting a female bust (1991.75.74.2) and a pair of small masks (1991.75.74.3, 1991.75.74.4)

Miniature sculptures like these, often of outstanding quality, continued to play an important role in Hellenistic jewelry. Despite being slightly damaged, the striding Nike figures rival contemporary large-scale sculpture in artistic quality. Still very much in the best late Classical tradition, they date to the early 2nd century BCE. Beginning in this period, goldsmiths put little figures on small pedestals, underscoring the image of a large-scale piece of art. Because of such bases, some figural pendants have been interpreted as imitations of large monuments. When worn, these earrings would have dangled and moved and were certainly an indicator of wealth and taste. Similar complex earrings, with dangling figures of Eros, are also included in the Dallas Museum of Art's collection (1995.25.a-b).

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), 64-5, 143.
Anne Bromberg, "Eros earrings," in Dallas Museum of Art: A Guide to the Collection, ed. Charles Venable (New Haven, NJ: Yale University Press, 1997), 30.
Anne R. Bromberg and Karl Kilinski II, Gods, Men, and Heroes: Ancient Art at the Dallas Museum of Art. (Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1996), 119.

NOTES

entered publication as a text entry in TMS
updated geo x ref
updated provenance

Catalogue essays

Ancient Gold Jewelry: The Spread of Imagery

Greek Jewelry

Artist/designers

Cultures

Geography

Process/materials

Granulation

Sheet Metal

Filigree

Plain and Decorative Wire

Historical periods

Individuals

Subject terms

RELATED OBJECTS

PROVENANCE

Until 1989: probably Collection of Dr. Athos Moretti, Switzerland [1]

1989-1991: Collection of Robert Haber, New York, New York [2]

From 1991: Dallas Museum of Art, The Eugene and Margaret McDermott Art Fund, Inc.

[1] based on existing provenance entry in TMS

[2] See printed email exchange between Andrew Oliver and Anne Bromberg, dated August 3, 2012, found in Collections Record Object file 1991.75.53

AUDIO ASSETS

VIDEO ASSETS

IMAGE ASSETS

WEB RESOURCES

Khan Academy~Watch a short video about the monumental Hellenistic sculpture, the Nike of Samothrace, in the collection of the Louvre, and compare to the smaller version of Nike seen on these earrings.

ARCHIVAL RESOURCES

FUN FACTS

Nike is the Greek goddess of strength, speed, and victory and is one of the most commonly portrayed figures on Greek and Roman coins.

TEACHING IDEAS

RULES

Apply to objects where number equals 1991.75.74.1.A-B

General Description

In contrast to Greek animal-head earrings (1991.75.62.a-b, 1991.75.63.a-b) created in the late 4th century BCE, the equally popular pendant earrings already had a long history by that time. The earliest examples date to the 6th century BCE. In the 4th century BCE, when the type enjoyed its principal vogue, pieces became more and more elaborate and enriched. During the following two centuries, the basic scheme remained unchanged: a decorative disk hides the ear wire and supports a pointed pendant. This simple scheme allowed numerous elaborations.

In this elaborate pair, each ear pendant consists of a central rosette and a decorative border crowned by a palmette, with a heart-shaped empty box setting. Suspended to the disk is a large pendant in the form of a winged female figure, a striding Nike who stands on a square base, flanked by multicolored beaded tassels: several chains with coiled wire and colored beads made from green glass, garnet, and carnelian. One figure is turned to the right, the other to the left. On the figure facing right, the chiton falls over the right shoulder and opens on the same side. The arrangement is reversed on the other figure. Pointed wings are attached behind the shoulders. This pair of ear pendants was allegedly found with a plaque depicting a female bust (1991.75.74.2) and a pair of small masks (1991.75.74.3, 1991.75.74.4)

Miniature sculptures like these, often of outstanding quality, continued to play an important role in Hellenistic jewelry. Despite being slightly damaged, the striding Nike figures rival contemporary large-scale sculpture in artistic quality. Still very much in the best late Classical tradition, they date to the early 2nd century BCE. Beginning in this period, goldsmiths put little figures on small pedestals, underscoring the image of a large-scale piece of art. Because of such bases, some figural pendants have been interpreted as imitations of large monuments. When worn, these earrings would have dangled and moved and were certainly an indicator of wealth and taste. Similar complex earrings, with dangling figures of Eros, are also included in the Dallas Museum of Art's collection (1995.25.a-b).

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), 64-5, 143.
Anne Bromberg, "Eros earrings," in Dallas Museum of Art: A Guide to the Collection, ed. Charles Venable (New Haven, NJ: Yale University Press, 1997), 30.
Anne R. Bromberg and Karl Kilinski II, Gods, Men, and Heroes: Ancient Art at the Dallas Museum of Art. (Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1996), 119.

Fun Facts

Nike is the Greek goddess of strength, speed, and victory and is one of the most commonly portrayed figures on Greek and Roman coins.

Archival Resources

Web Resources

Khan Academy~Watch a short video about the monumental Hellenistic sculpture, the Nike of Samothrace, in the collection of the Louvre, and compare to the smaller version of Nike seen on these earrings.

Notes