A delicate Ancient Roman pendant of a round garnet cabochon stone set in a gold bezel. There is a small suspension loop at the top, however it is now blocked. The base of the pendant is chipped and would have featured a fine gold point. The reverse is indented. As in many societies in antiquity, jewellery was an important social marker used to demonstrate wealth in the Roman Empire. With the expansion of the empire, Roman jewellery became more elaborate in its design, as goldsmiths were influenced by the range of styles, materials and techniques used by craftsmen in the newly conquered territories. By incorporating foreign techniques and new designs, Rome could reflect its position as a prosperous and dominant conquering city. Roman jewellery was enriched and embellished with precious, semi-precious stones and glass beads. Measurements: L 0.6 cm x W 0.4 cm Weight: 0.15g Provenance: Ex Japanese private collection, deceased, 1970-2010.