Lotto 5573* - ibid157 Gioielli antichi dalla collezione Kofler-Truniger - online only - martedì, 31. marzo 2026, 13h00
IMPORTANT EARRING, PROBABLY WITH THE DEPICTION OF AN EMPRESS' HEAD
Early Byzantine, ca. 5th–7th century AD.
Gold sheet partly openworked in a semicircular basket shape. Filigree gold wire and granulation decoration in the form of rosettes and star blossoms, and a rich gold bead border. At the bottom center, a chased depiction of a woman's head with imperial hairstyle. Four set almandine garnets and a blue medallion (probably glass paste). Simple round bow.
H 6.3 cm, W 5.5 cm. Total weight 16 g.
Provenance:
- Collection of Ernst and Marthe Kofler-Truniger (1903–1990 & 1918–1999), Lucerne before 1964 (inv. no. K731U).
- Swiss private collection, Lucerne, acquired from the above in ca. 1974.
- By inheritance in the same Swiss family collection, Lucerne.
Exhibited:
Literature:
According to the index card, Prof. Marvin Chauncey Ross (1904–1977) draws a comparison to an earring in the Princeton Art Museum (inv. no. y1954-149), which is similar to the one on offer with regard to shape, use of decoration, and jewelry inlays. He also cites several examples of early Byzantine jewelry with imperial depictions (e.g., in the Benaki Museum in Athens, the Walters Art Gallery, etc.), whereby, in his opinion, the piece on offer is one of the earliest Byzantine examples of an imperial head depicted on this type of earring. The decisive factor in assuming that this is an imperial representation is the typical hair ornament. For extensive comparative literature, please refer to the Kofler-Truniger exhibition catalog of the Kunsthaus Zurich (1964).
Conditionreport:
- Bow tip bent and broken off<br>- Dents and partially bent elements, small losses<br>- Breakout on the back, traces of restoration. CHF 1 500 / 2 000 | (€ 1 550 / 2 060)
Venduto per CHF 1 250 (incl. premio)