A fine large Western Asiatic gold earring featuring a wide, mostly regular loop and beaded pendant. The loop features two small, spherical finials. A hardstone disc-shaped bead, with a gold spiral-wound base, is attached to the main hoop. Interlocking hoops join the spiral to the pendant ornament. Beneath is a metal bead (with some traces of original gilding), followed by an ellipsoid stone bead in a frame of vertical gold strips, and followed by a long white barrel-shaped bead, flanked above and below by two dark cylindrical beads. Earthy encrustations throughout, alongside minor wear to the beads, particularly the white bead, and warping to the gold. Many grand civilizations inhabited the area of Western Asia in Antiquity, and their wealth and prosperity is witnessed by the very sophisticated precious metal crafting of jewellery. Gold would have been hammered down to a thin layer and manipulated into different shapes. Gold and silver jewellery would have featured gold granules, glass and semi-precious stone inlays and detailed engravings. Very fine granulation along with filigree, were at the centre of Near Eastern and Western Asiatic jewellery production and were later adopted by the Greeks, Etruscans and Romans. Measurements: L 7.9cm x W 2.5cm Weight: 6.76g Provenance: Ex property of a late Japanese collector, 1970-2000s.