11-30-2010, 04:34 PM
The art of the beaded Etruscan bronze jewelry was lost even by Augustan times, at which time there was a great fad for it. Getting the thousands of tiny "shot" onto the curved surface of the bronze and then soldering it in place took unbelievable precision and delicacy. According to the Romans, it had to be done by children under the age of twelve. No need to tbe shocked. I've been in carpet shops in Cairo where children no older were doing the hand-weaving and knot-tying.
Pecunia non olet
