East Java Gold Earrings, circa AD 700

Pair of Gold Earrings

East Java, Indonesia

circa AD700

diameter: 1.4 cm

The hoops of this pair of earrings, which date from the Early Classic Period, are wrapped entirely in twisted filigree gold wire. Each has an oblong setting for a stone that is held in place by four claws. Applied gold granules are at each junction of the bezel with the hoop. Each has a single, faceted amethyst (these are almost certainly later replacements).

Earrings with twisted gold wire wrapping similar in style are shown in Miksic (1990, p. 69). Miksic includes these in a group of gold earrings that he attributes to East Java, AD200-700. Lunsingh Scheurleer (2102, p. 29) illustrates an item described as a ring which also has very similar gold wire wrapping but which is ascribed to the second half of the fourteenth century. This too has spherical granulation work and a replaced stone.

The pair here are in excellent condition. Importantly too, they are a matched pair, making them especially rare.

References

Lunsingh Scheurleer, P., Gold from Java/Goud uit Java, Gemeentemuseum Den Haag/W Books, 2012.

Miksic, J., Old Javanese Gold, Ideation, 1990.

Provenance

from a private UK collection.

Inventory no.: 269

SOLD