A pair of highly ornate, heavy Hellenistic gold earrings, 2nd half of the 4th – 2nd century B.C.Two identically shaped earrings. Large gold disc with a long wire hook soldered on the back to affix the earring in the ear. Decoration composed of varying filigree wires (smooth, twisted and coiled into a spiral) arranged in six concentric zones on the outside. A spherically domed protrusion in the middle, with a central spherical cabochon of dark-blue glass in a bezel setting, surrounded by a decorative border with spirals and circlets of filigree wire and globules. Three eyelets soldered to the lower end of the disc. Delicate foxtail chains looped through the two outer eyelets, the lower ends of the chains adorned with dark-blue glass beads threaded onto gold wire. A conical pendant with lavish embellishment suspended from the middle eyelet, a frieze of filigree spirals and globules at the top, a wide border of spiral, tightly coiled, twisted wires at the bottom.Apart from minor sinter deposits, these ancient Greek earrings are masterpieces in excellent condition. Height of each approx. 6 cm. Weight 13.42 and 14.21 g respectively.Provenance: Private South German collection, inherited by the present owner from her parents during the 1960s. The composition of the collection was largely determined by her father, a classical scholar.Condition: II