Getty Museum

Necklace

Date

3rd century A.D.

Medium

Gold with amethyst

Culture

Roman

Department

Jewelry

Institution

Getty Museum

Seventy hollow, double-leaf-shaped sections form this short gold necklace. Each section is made from sheet gold, and the sections are joined by links on the back. The ends of the chain have long, feather-like terminals of sheet gold, one with a loop and one with a hook, which form the clasp. Necklaces with stylized bird or leaf forms were popular among the Romans in the 200s A.D., but central ornaments were rare on this type of necklace. The cabochon amethyst on this example is an addition from later in antiquity, its setting of four leaf sections taken from the chain and soldered into a quatrefoil.

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