Gold Earrings

Basic information

Designation

Treasure No.557

Category

Craft

Era

신라시대(5∼6세기)

Designated year

1971

Location

용산구, 서울특별시— 서울 용산구 이태원로55길 60-16, 삼성미술관 리움 (한남동)

Coordinates

37.536528, 126.996187

These gold earrings are 9cm long with the main loops measuring 3.6cm in diameter. The exact place of discovery is unknown. The surface of the main loop is decorated with a turtle motif in gold wire with fine gold granules attached all along the gold wire, on both sides. Small circles made with gold wire and granules are placed inside the hexagon representing a turtle shell, at each inner angle and at the center. The circles at the angles are each accompanied by a leaf-shaped gold-granule motif. The oblong connecting loops that attach to the main loops have a surface covered with an intaglio design. The pendants hanging from the connecting loop consists of a dozen of heart-shaped ornaments strung together with gold wire. The heart-shaped ornaments are in two tiers with a grass fruit-shaped motif at the very bottom. Gold granular work is also present across the surface of the grass fruit-like motif. These earrings in filigree design, with lavishly decorated main loops, are amongst the most sumptuous items of this type thus far discovered.

Location