Ca. 6th-7th Century AD
A Byzantine gold necklace made with flawless round links, interspersed with multicoloured precious stones. At the centre, the necklace lowers into a refined Latin cross pendant featuring a large garnet cabochon. The pendant is further enriched with clear, pale-blue stones and small pearl finials.
 
Crosses used as personal adornments appeared by the 5th Century AD. Polychrome jewellery, such as this exquisite example, was particularly prized in the early Byzantine world. For a similar see: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Accession Number: 17.190.1660.
 
Provenance: Private London collection, formed on the UK/international art market in the 1990s.