Art Institute of Chicago

Earring/ornament

Korea

Date

Three Kingdom period (57 B.C.-A.D. 676)

Medium

Gold

Culture

Korea

Department

Arts of Asia

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

Gold earrings such as this one were one of the quintessential indicators of the elite class during the Three Kingdoms period (c. 57 BC–AD 676). Royals or aristocrats during this time were buried with many goods, almost invariably with earring. Based on the thickness of the uppermost rings, this set was worn by a female member, most likely hung from a separate strap around the ear. The noteworthy embellishment is the three-sided leaflets further adorned with minuscule granulation of golden grains, a testament of a sophisticated goldsmith technique at the time.

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