Old School Jewels on Exhibit at the Getty Villa

I recently took a mini field trip with some girlfriends to the Getty Villa in Malibu, CA, a museum famous for its remarkable Greek and Roman art and its breathtaking grounds. 

We came to enjoy the sights (and the wine) when I stumbled upon a treasure trove of ancient jewelry!

I couldn't resist the tourist moment that followed as I snapped photos of everything I could get close to.

Here are a few pieces from the collection of B.C. bling... READ MORE

Disk Earrings and Comb Brooch
Etruscan, 700- 525  B.C.
Gold
Large, disk-shaped gold earrings were popular in Etruria at the end of the sixth century B.C. At that time, the taste for elaborate ornaments was met by an extraordinary level of skill on the part of Etruscan goldsmiths. These earrings were decorated with granulation, a technique in which small drops of gold were used to form the designs. 

Hair Net and Diadem (crown)
Greek, 220- 100 B.C.
Gold
Much of the imagery on this jewelry attests to the importance of religion, ritual and magic in antiquity. Figures of Aphrodite (goddess of love) and Eros (child god of love) decorate the hairnet. Torches associated with the nocturnal rites of Demeter (goddess of agriculture), Dionysos (god of wine) and others adorn the diadem.

Rings
Greek, 220- 100 B.C.
Gold and garnet
Two rings engraved with the images of Artemis (goddess of the hunt) and Tyche (goddess of good fortune)

Earrings with Nike Pendants
Greek, 225- 175 B.C.
Gold and glass
Nike (the winged goddess of victory)





Arm Ornaments
Greek, 220- 100 B.C.

These arm ornaments are fashioned as coiled snakes, symbolic of death and rebirth. 

If you're ever cruising up the PCH, make sure to stop by the Getty Villa, 17985 Pacific Coast Highway, Pacific Palisades, California 90272.

Try the Villa Salad and a glass of Chardonnay before soaking up some sun in the garden.  
But watch out for the naked nymphs by the pool. ~vK