Jewelry and Adornment

Physical identification

Rings, earrings, necklaces, beads, fibulae and personal ornaments. Record dimensions, weight, manufacture, surfaces, repairs, labels, mounts and inscriptions before cleaning or treatment.

Key cautions

• Identify metal, stone, glass and composite construction.
• Modern mountings can contain ancient or imitation components.
• Burial-context and export history deserve careful review.

Provenance and lawful movement

Ask when the object first appeared outside the ground, who owned it, where it was located, how it left its likely source country and whether the seller warrants good title in writing.

Authenticity and conservation

Condition and authenticity can be intertwined. Artificial deposits, modern joins and restored surfaces may disguise manufacture. No single photograph, certificate or test proves the complete history of an object.