A PAIR OF BYZANTINE GOLD, PEARL, BANDED AGATE AND AMETHYST EARRINGS
CIRCA 5TH-6TH CENTURY A.D.
Each composed of a plain hollow hoop, tapering at each end to plain wire forming a hook-and-loop closure, the loop extending and coiled back around the hoop, suspending a drop composed of wire spiraled along its length, topped by a large granule, threaded through rounded banded-agate, pearl and biconical amethyst beads, alternating with gold spacers, increasing in size up the length, also suspending both ends of a length of loop-in-loop chain; fitted with modern earwires
Each: 3 in. (7.6 cm.) long

PROVENANCE
Private Collection, U.K., 1970s.
Art Market, New York, 1998.