A fine Pair of Roman Gold Amphora Earrings, ca. 1st -2nd century CE

A striking and unusually large pair of Roman gold earrings fashioned as miniature amphorae. Each pendant stands on a square plinth and presents a gently rounded body with pronounced, ear-shaped handles finished in a faux-braided motif. Large suspension loops at the vessel rims allow attachment to the modern 14K diamond-set hoops. The workmanship is fine and delicate, with the amphora form carefully modeled to read as both small-scale vessels and elegant jewelry pendants. The removable contemporary hoops, fitted with thirty-two small round brilliant diamonds in total, provide a versatile, wearable presentation while preserving the antiquities as historic components.

Gold jewelry was highly valued in Roman society for both its decorative appeal and personal adornment. Miniature representations of everyday objects, such as vessels like amphorae, were a common motif in Roman jewelry. These items were often crafted as pendants, earrings, or charms. Amphorae, in particular, are evocative choices; beyond their practical uses for storage, trade, and wine, they symbolize abundance, domestic prosperity, and Mediterranean commerce.

The quality and scale of these pendants, along with the careful detailing of the handles and bases, demonstrate the skill of Roman goldsmiths in creating small three-dimensional figures. This particular pair of pendants stands out for both its size and intricate detail, making it a rare and attractive example of Roman personal ornamentation.

Medium: Gold; modern 14K yellow-gold hoops set with 32 round white diamonds (total .24 ct; 32 × .0075 ct each; I1 clarity / G–H color)
Dimensions: Height: 1 3/8 inches (3.49 cm). Overall drop length: 2 inches (5.08 cm)

Condition: Very good. A few minor, scattered dents to the amphora pendants commensurate with age; otherwise intact and structurally sound. The historic gold pendants are fitted to removable modern 14K hoops, permitting two wearing options (pendants attached or hoops worn alone).

Provenance: Shlomo Moussaieff collection, Israel. 1980s thereafter private NYC collection. Shlomo Moussaieff (1925 – July 1, 2015) was an Israeli jeweler, of Bukharan Jewish descent, and the grandson of the wealthy gemstone trader Rabbi Moussaieff from Uzbekistan. Founder of Moussaieff Jewellers Ltd., he and his wife and business partner, Alisa, were ranked No. 315 on the Sunday Times Rich List 2011, with a fortune estimated at £220 million. Moussaieff produced precious jewelry for international royalty and high society, including Western royalty and those from Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf states. He spoke Arabic fluently. In addition, Moussaieff was regarded as one of the world's top private collectors of antiquities associated with the Bible and the ancient Near East, with a collection of over 60,000 artifacts.