Holy Land / Near East / Constantinople, Byzantine Empire, ca. 9th to early 13th century CE. A stunning gilded bronze attachment with a round face divided into four heart-shaped inlays, each one containing a deep, wine red garnet. Around them is blue glass/enamel cloisonne; their borders are very thin, gilded bronze wires. The face is set into a deep gilded bronze disc, and four bronze pins on the back allowed the piece to be attached to a belt or article of clothing. Size: 1" W (2.5 cm)

During the 7th to 9th centuries, the Byzantine Empire was in a state of economic and social crisis, repeatedly rocked by invasions, plagues, famines, and other disasters - a time period often called "The Dark Ages". Emerging from that period, it seems that the people of the Byzantine Empire wished to flaunt their wealth and embellish themselves with beautiful things. For example, in excavations of Byzantine graves from this period at Thessaloniki, jewelry like this is found with both men and women, and found in great quantities. This would have been a treasured item for a person living in this optimistic, dynamic time.

Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection

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#129889

Patina on bronze surface, with nice remaining gilding. The glass is partially lost, with slight encrustation filling in most of the lost areas. One of the garnets has a small break across it.