A Byzantine gold and chalcedony cross pendant, circa 4th - 6th century AD
Length: 2.5 cm
Provenance: UK private collection, acquired in the 1980s
A Byzantine gold cross with granulation and decorated with a chalcedony bead. The pendant is suspended from a modern 18 carat gold chain.
Despite the persistent anti-adornment attitudes in early Christian writings, the abundant material evidence speaks of the importance jewellery held for Byzantine women. Crosses ornamented with precious stones allowed the wearer to display both their faith and wealth. They also acted as protective amulets, as it was believed they could repel evil spirits.
Cross pendants such as this example were most likely used to decorate large, elaborate necklaces, for an example, see The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, inv. no. 17.190.1667: K. Brown et. al., ed. From Attila to Charlemagne: Arts of the Early Medieval Period in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York and New Haven: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000. p. 59, 341, fig. 7.1.