Near East / Western Asia, Parthia or possibly Eastern Roman, ca. 2nd to 3rd century CE. A stunning, openwork gold pendant presenting a semi-circular form set with 12 garnet cabochons, 6 on each side, all boasting ovoid or teardrop forms. All of the garnets are adorned with beautiful borders of petite gold nodules, while 4 slender gold wires coil to form spiral motifs on the interior of the pendant. An additional gold wire loop attaches to the top, allowing the piece to be suspended from a modern strand with a lobster claw clasp to be wearable. A truly gorgeous adornment from the ancient Near East! Size (pendant): 1.2" L x 0.8" W (3 cm x 2 cm); (strand): 21.5" L (54.6 cm); gold quality: 85% (equivalent to over 20 karats); weight: 4.7 grams
Garnets get their name for the Latin word "granatus," meaning "seed-like" - a likely allusion to the similarities in appearance of small red garnets and pomegranate seeds. In antiquity, garnets were popular gemstones, considered just as beautiful as rubies. The very earliest descriptions of garnet date to Roman times; Pliny the Elder (23/24 to 79 CE) referred to the dark-red variety as carbunculus alabandicus, the fire-stone from the city of Alabanda (modern Turkey), an important market place for gemstones found in Asia during Pliny's time.
Provenance: East Coast collection, New York Gallery, New York City, New York, USA, acquired before 2010
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#142757
Condition
Ancient pendant strung on modern strand to be wearable. Some very light bending to form. Otherwise, intact and excellent.