Byzantine, 6th century A.D.

Gold and Garnet

H: 2.1 cm

PROVENANCE: Ex-European private collection acquired in the 1970's ; American Art Market 2002.

SERIAL NO: 16326

A Byzantine ring with a compartmented cruciform bezel filled with red garnet stones. The ring is finely worked: four twisted gold wires and two beaded gold wires were applied to a base of sheet gold. It is possible to attribute this jewel to Byzantium or to western Merovingian ateliers.

Two styles of rings were popular during the early Byzantine period. One shows an incised eagle surmounted by a cross-shaped monogram. The other, much more elaborate, has a cross bezel filled with thinly curved garnet plaques.