the MinorMasterPieces Collection

jewels page 8 Earrings

please note--earrings are offered as clips or posts (for pierced ears) at the same price, please specify which you want in an email with your order.

also: some earrings are shown here with a partial 18k gold overlay on sterling. All prices quoted are for sterling throughout.If you desire a piece partly gold-plated, please specify in an email PRIOR to making your order; we will get back to you with a quote (generally around US$25.00)

US $ 40

E17: Medusa Aegis earring The coin used in the design of this earring was a Roman Republican denarius issued by Lucius Plautius Plancus in 47 B.C. It features a bold mask of the Medusa--a motif common to this day in jewelry which goes back to greek antecedents through to the fifth century B.C. originally the monster's face was shown with a threatening toothy gape, but before roman times thi more placid iconography had prevailed. Even the snakes in her hair are here reduced o well ordered waves. The sterling crescent below recalls the ancient aegis or shield, as well as catching the light in an appealing way. A very light and comfortable model overall.

US $65

E55: Helios Torus earring The image on this earring comes from a greek silver coin of Rhodes from around 150 B.C. showing the sun god Apollo-Helios wearing a crown of solar rays, facing to the right. The huge statue of this god which stood in the harbor of that city known as the Colossus of Rhodes was one of the ancient "Seven Wonders of the World". It has been set in a sterling silver torus, hollow for light comfort in wearing.

US $50

E19: Poseidon earring The image on this earring was taken from a small bronze coin of Philip V of Macedon, from around 220 B.C. Poseidon, god of the Sea (known to the Romans as Neptune) is seen glaring towards the right, his long hair streaming behind him in a manner calculated to recall flowing water. His reign was the last great one of the dynasty epitomised by his ancestor philip II and of course Alexander the Great. After the disastrous battle of Cynoscephali against the encroaching power of Rome in 197 B.C. the days of the independant kingdom were numbered. Though he did leave the throne to his son Perseus, this unfortunate was to rule only a decade, to lose his throne forever to the nemesis from Italy and end his days two years later in ignominious captivity. How far the kingdom that once ruled the world had fallen! Set in a dapped shield-shaped bezel in sterling silver.

US $ 40

E18: Horse earring The image on this handsome earring was taken from a greek silver half-drachma coin of Maronea in Thrace from around 375 B.C. showing the forepart of a horse. The Maroneans were renowned horse breeders and trainers in their day. In a time before TV and magazines, the coins of a town or region were often used to boost the local economy. It has been set on a dapped hemisphere of sterling silver--light and practical to wear, yet substantial.

US $ 80

E48: Horseman earring The vigorous horseman seen prancing on this earring comes from a coin of Tarentum in southern Italy, a greek settlement already four centuries old at the time of the minting of the original coin around 280 B.C. The Tarentines were famous traders, and their coins had currency all over the mediterranean of their day. On the reverse was the famous 'Boy on a Dolphin' which can be seen on some other models from this jewelry line, for example on P79 (see catalogue page 6). It has been set in a wound sterling-silver wire bezel as a fitting frame for such a lovely image.

US $ 50

E49: Larissa earring The Thessalian forest nymph Larissa, a personification of the city of that name which was the chief town of the province of Thessaly graces the coin used in the making of this earring. The daring three-quarter facing portrait of the nymph belongs to the highest period of ancient greek numismatic art, and the example set here exemplifies the height of Greek engraving skill which produced artistry such as this. From an original of about 350 B.C. set in a cable-twist bezel of sterling silver.

US $80

E50: Athens earring It is from the high point of ancient Greek history that the original coin used in the design of this earring comes. The Persian invasion recently repulsed, it was in that heady moment of triumph and self-confidence around 480 B.C. that the Athenian issue of these famous tetradrachms sprang. Pericles ruled Athens, the Parthenon was under construction. Socrates, Plato and Aristotle would have seen and used these very coins (though for larger purchases only!) Athena is shown in an archaic style smiling enigmatically, protectress of the greates people on earth of her day; inventors of democracy, producers of art of every kind ranging from exquisite sculptures to amazing plays; her helmet wreathed in olive leaves, her gaze serene--she has much to be proud of. Set in a sterling silver banded cable-wire bezel.

US $30

E25: Dove earring The charming dove seen on this earring comes from a coin of Sicyon on the greek mainland immediately to the west of Corinth, from about 300 B.C. This bustling town was famous as the home of the celebrated painter Lysippus. The smallish coin has been cast in sterling silver,unaltered and unset as a light and airy earring, available with a post for pierced ears only. In our day, the evocation of the dove of peace is never out of order...

US $80

E51: Athena granules earring Athena is seen on this earring wearing a complex helmet ornamented by the sea monster Scylla (the other half of Charibdis fame) hurling a boulder. These two mythical creatures were the ancient greek version of "between rock and a hard place". Though minted in what is now Italy, it was from greek colonists at Tarentum around 300 B.C that the original used in this design came. It has been set in a dapped shield-like shape rimmed and graced with a series of large granules, all in sterling silver.

For alternative ordering instructions click here to send an email to: robertsekulovich@rogers.com