Gold earring with a glass pendant in the form of a demonic mask
Translucent colorless with greenish tinge, cobalt blue, opaque yellow and white.
Hollow at back from rod, forming protruding face with rounded forehead and broad, flat beard extending downward; above, added colorless trail as suspension ring.
Yellow outline to head, forming line across brow and around beard; colorless ears applied at sides; bulging eyes outlined in white with blue pupils.
End of nose and proper right ear missing, and large, weathered chip on proper left side of face; pitting and iridescent weathering.
Large gold hoop, circular in section, tapering towards ends fastened in a hook and loop.
These pendants were used as protective amulets to ward off evil. Similar pendants are frequently represented on Cypriot votive statues and figurines, particularly "temple boys."
Hollow at back from rod, forming protruding face with rounded forehead and broad, flat beard extending downward; above, added colorless trail as suspension ring.
Yellow outline to head, forming line across brow and around beard; colorless ears applied at sides; bulging eyes outlined in white with blue pupils.
End of nose and proper right ear missing, and large, weathered chip on proper left side of face; pitting and iridescent weathering.
Large gold hoop, circular in section, tapering towards ends fastened in a hook and loop.
These pendants were used as protective amulets to ward off evil. Similar pendants are frequently represented on Cypriot votive statues and figurines, particularly "temple boys."
Artwork Details
- Title: Gold earring with a glass pendant in the form of a demonic mask
- Period: Classical
- Date: 1st half of the 5th century BCE
- Culture: Phoenician or Carthaginian
- Medium: Gold, glass; rod-formed and tooled
- Dimensions: Height: 1 1/16in. (2.7cm)
- Classifications: Gold and Silver, Glass
- Credit Line: The Cesnola Collection, Purchased by subscription, 1874–76
- Object Number: 74.51.4031
- Curatorial Department: Greek and Roman Art
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Phoenician
7th–6th century BCE
Phoenician
late 4th–3rd century BCE
Phoenician
7th–6th century BCE
Phoenician
mid-5th–4th century BCE
Phoenician
6th–5th century BCE
Related Content
Publications
Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.
Free to download
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.