Etruscan ornamental discs (earrings)

Granulation, a technique of decorating a precious metal surface (mostly gold or silver) with tiny spherules of usually the same material was used back in the 3rd millennium BCE. The technique reached its apogee in the 6th century BCE in Etruria, today’s Tuscany region, as is evidenced by two golden ornamental discs worn as earrings by a noblewoman around that time and displaying the Etruscan goldsmiths’ outstanding craftsmanship.