A beautiful Byzantine gold appliqué with a central cabochon garnet in a bezel setting, which is embedded in a textured gold plate. The circular gold plate is finely cut from a thin and hammered gold sheet. The reverse remains unadorned and features two suspension tubes which are now closed. There is a crack on the garnet stone. 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 these newly conquered territories. By incorporating these 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: 1cm diameter Weight: 0.39g Provenance: Ex Japanese private collection, deceased, 1970-2010.