19th century AD. A gold earring comprising a coiled penannular hoop with knop finial and twisted shank, hollow-formed gold bird figure modelled in the round with filigree and granule detailing. 15.34 grams, 35.7mm overall, 18.3mm internal diameter (approximate size British Q, USA 8, Europe 17.49, Japan 17) (1 1/4"). From the David John Dennis collection of ancient jewellery; acquired on the UK art market in the early 2000s. David Dennis started collecting items when he was a 10 year old boy during the Blitz in London, gathering parts of nose cones from shells and other pieces of shrapnel that had fallen from the skies. After the war he turned his attentions to cigarette cards, postage stamps, banknotes, coins and eventually ancient artefacts, predominantly Roman jewellery. Now living in Cumbria with his daughter, he decided it was time to part with his collections. [No Reserve]