A BYZANTINE GOLD AND GEM-SET RING Circa 8th Century A.D.

拍品描述

A BYZANTINE GOLD AND GEM-SET RING Circa 8th Century A.D. Cast from warm yellow gold, the ring has a slender circular hoop supporting a flat circular bezel edged with a neatly beaded rim. At the centre sits a small cabochon red stone, likely a garnet, enclosed within a plain collar and flanked by two raised gold pellets. The surface of the bezel retains traces of pale encrustation within the recessed fields, while the hoop shows gentle thinning and soft surface wear consistent with age. The underside of the bezel is plain and slightly concave, with the juncture between bezel and hoop clearly visible, showing simple soldered joins typical of Byzantine goldwork. Rings of this type, combining a modest hoop with a patterned or pellet-ornamented bezel surrounding a single inset stone, formed part of the repertoire of Byzantine personal adornment and were worn as markers of status and piety in both urban and provincial contexts. Measurements: Internal diameter 1.8 cm; weight 2 g

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