Skip to main content
Byzantine Gold Stone-Inlaid Pendant

Byzantine

Byzantine Gold Stone-Inlaid Pendant

An elegant Byzantine pendant whose restrained gold setting focuses attention on the luminous stone at its centre.

Date
9th–12th century AD
Period
Middle Byzantine Period
Material
Gold and stone inlay
Weight
2 g
Dimensions
Diameter 25.5 mm
Condition
Very fine

The Story of the Object

Material, Meaning and Survival

Byzantine jewellery balanced sumptuous material with compact, legible form. This pendant’s stone inlay is framed by a carefully worked gold body, creating an object intended to be read at close range. Its survival offers an intimate counterpoint to the monumental mosaics and church furnishings more commonly associated with Byzantine visual culture.