PairofGoldEarSpools
NearMullingar,Co.Westmeath.
LateBronzeAge,800-700BC.
GroundFloor
Ór-Ireland'sGoldExhibition
Artefactsofthistypehavepreviouslybeen
describedasboxesalthoughthisisunlikelyas
thelidsweresealedon.
Size-Weight18.7gramsand15.95grams.
Diameter-60mm.
Material
• Hammeredsheetsofgold.
Form
• Eachspoolconsistsofacylindricalsidepieceandtwodiscsorlids,originallysealedon
topbybendingovertheedgestoformacircularspoolorbox.
• Theseobjectssometimescontainsmallballsofgold.
Decoration
• Thedecorationofthegoldboxesiscloselyrelatedtothegolddiscsattachedtothe
GlennisheenGorget.
• Thecentreofeachdischasaraisedcircularbosssurroundedbyconcentriccirclemotifs
followedbyasunburstofradiatinglinesframingtheinnercircleofeachdisc/lid.
Technique
• Thespoolsandcylindricalsidepiecesweremadefromahammeredsheetofgold.
• Raiseddecorationwascreatedbyrepoussé.
• Concentriccircleswerecreatedbyincisiononthesurfaceofthegold.
Function
• EthnographicalcomparisonsofsimilarobjectsfoundinanumberofculturesinAfrica,
AsiaandSouthAmericasuggeststhatthesewerecreatedaspairofdramaticear
ornamentstobeworninthestretchedearlobe.
• Theseobjectswerepossiblywornforceremonialorritualpurpose.
TheBallineskerHoard,containedtwopairsofgoldboxes.