Ca. 1200-1400 AD.A beautiful gold cross composed of four flaring rods with drum-shaped finials to each arm. The entire body is richly embellished with intricate repeating circular openwork decoration outlined with applied granulations. The center of the cross comprises a hemispherical red gem setting with four protruding arms forming a second cross which is entwined by a gold wire threaded with tiny pearl beads. The suspension loop makes this stunning wearable and it comes with a modern necklace cord. The medieval empire of Byzantium was justly famous for the elegance of its jewellery, whether in precious metals for the aristocracy or in bronze for people further down the social ladder. For a similar see The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Accession Number: 2005.38.Size: L:37.6mm / W:29mm ; 10.57gProvenance: From the private collection of a Central London gentleman; previously in a collection formed on the UK/European art market before 2000.