8th-10th century AD. A matched pair of gold hoop earrings with tapering round-section closings and crescentic bodies, each displaying an openwork design of two stylised facing doves flanking a cross pattée, series of shallow dots around an internal border. 25.56 grams total, 48-49mm (2"). Property of a London lady, part of her family's collection; acquired from Mr. H. Zindulka in 1975; accompanied by an independent specialist report and valuation by graduate gemmologist and jewellery expert Anna Rogers, GIA GG, BA, Gem-A, ref. no. 0115/07/12/2020; this lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by AIAD certificate number no. 10547-170115. Opus interrasile was a technique used by goldsmiths to make elegant jewellery from the third through to the tenth century AD. Designs were traced onto sheets of gold and the background was punched with holes of various sizes to highlight the pattern, and fine details were then worked on the surface. The patterns were formed by piercing the metal ground encouraged the play of light and shadow across an object's surface. [2]