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Gothic Leaf-Shaped Gold and Garnet Pendant

Late Antique

Gothic Leaf-Shaped Gold and Garnet Pendant

A leaf-shaped pendant from the Black Sea region, joining high-purity gold with the deep red brilliance of garnet.

Date
3rd–4th century AD
Period
Migration Period
Material
Gold and garnet
Weight
3.09 g
Dimensions
45.3 × 15.3 mm
Condition
Very good; original and undamaged

The Story of the Object

Material, Meaning and Survival

Associated with Gothic communities around the Black Sea, leaf-shaped pendants reveal the movement of forms and materials across the late Roman frontier. XRF analysis records approximately 95.9% gold, with silver and copper present in small proportions. The garnet and elongated silhouette create a jewel whose colour and mobility would have animated the wearer’s appearance.