Celtic earring c100bc.

[aredrosegrewup]

Couldn't work out where to put this. Please advise if there is somewhere better.

This was sold to me as a Celtic earring c100bc. I paid £22. I bought it from somewhere selling various antiques at a range of prices. No reason to believe it's fake. Couldn't find much information online. Any ideas? Thanks!

100 BC and they charged you £22? What authentication did the seller show you?

Do you mean BC as in ‘before Christ’?

To my fairly limited knowledge, some of these items, although they're very old, they're quite a common find so don't fetch alot of money? I could be wrong though and won't feel ridiculous for only spending £22! Just proof of purchase, I didn't ask for certificate of authenticity.

What’s it made of?!

I'm not sure. It's tarnished green. Bronze potentially? Bronze would have been used for jewellery then I believe.

Yes.

Suspect you've been had. Basically 2000 years in the ground? How realistic is it that something that flimsy/small survived in the ground and then was dug up? But for £22 it's not a massive amount to pay .

Huh? There's many items survive in the ground, that's how they stay intact isnt it? What about all all the objects in museums in much better condition than mine that are found during archaeological digs? I genuinely thought it was quite common for enthusiastic metal detectorists to find these types of items. I agree, if I've been had, £22 is no great loss. The low price feels more authentic to me though.

Do you have a museum locally?
Try asking there. If they can’t help they will direct you to someone who can.

So no provenance, no archaeological record of context? If you bought it from a detectorists, this is the kind of thing that gives them a bad name.

I do actually, it's an idea!

I doubt it to be honest.

Just joining in to say that plenty of ancient things found at digs look like they were made yesterday once they’ve been cleaned, (as can be seen by the many beautiful items in museums).

I also once had the opportunity to handle a 5000 year old tiny Egyptian silver artefact at the BM that looked ‘new’, so the earring’s survival, (or not 🤷‍♀️), doesn’t surprise me.

I saw someone at a market in York selling similar items to your earring and at similar price points@aredrosegrewup last week. I had two queries: Were they genuine? If so, was it legal to sell them?

I had no idea on either count, so looked with interest then walked on.

I guess the only way to tell if it’s genuine is to take it to a local museum, (if this is something that can be done), or to an antiques dealer specialising in antiquities to see if they can help.

I’ve no idea whether or not this is genuine, but a quick look on eBay shows at least one apparently reputable seller offering artefacts of similar age for that sort of money.

I didn't say I bought it from a detectorist... I said that I thought it was quite common for detectorists to find these types of items.

Can you tell me why? Genuinely would like to know.

Yes somebody else has mentioned about a museum. I'm not sure if you can but I suppose it won't harm to send an email. That was my understanding about some things too, that they clean up very well and have been preserved under ground. I'm jealous of your handling of 5000 year old artefacts!

Thank you! I've not looked on Ebay actually. I bought this in person from a shop which is still in business and I think I bought this about a year ago.

How would it have been attached to a person’s ear?

I’ve no idea, OP.

But I hope it is that old. I always think everyday items that people used centuries ago are very moving.

There’s so much at Vindolanda that makes me think and imagine. A hair pin with a fist design is a favourite. So routine, so simple, but it’s beautiful and would have been used by a Roman woman. Amazing.

There's a small gap in the top piece. I suppose it could have been connected to another piece or it could have sat near the bottom of the earlobe.

I feel exactly the same way! We have a linen press/cupboard from the 1700's and I open it and sniff it regularly, I love it! I'm aware that seems a bit unhinged but I love history and particularly old items.

I live disgracefully close to Vindolanda!

@aredrosegrewup I took my kids to a ‘hands on’ experience at the BM many years ago. I enjoyed it much more than the few children there, who didn’t really understand what ‘old’ things were!

All was going well until youngest aged about 3, (who was standing in front of me), literally pocketed a small silver coin that was thousands of years old. I spotted this at the same time as the member of staff and grabbed it off him, just as she was starting to say something, but it was mortifying and I have rarely left a building so quickly before or since🙀

Turned out he thought it was the gift shop and ‘that was what I wanted, Mummy’ because the ‘lady was at a counter’ 🙈

Coming back to your earring - it wouldn’t surprise me at all if it’s genuine and there are similar things for sale. Have you tried Googling the seller for reviews? (If this is a possibility.)

PS: I too love old things, particularly personal items - it really makes me feel a connection with people from the past.

I also love Vindolanda! I would really like to go again.

I’m not really sure what you are asking.

You don’t think it is fake.
You were happy to buy it without authentication.
You believe the price is reasonable.

In which case, what would you like from this thread?