A delicate Ancient Roman pendant of a round garnet cabochon stone set in a gold bezel. There is a ribbed suspension loop at the top. The base of the pendant features a secondary smaller loop with a miniature gold bead just below the garnet. The reverse of the pendant is unadorned and slightly concave. The garnet is damaged on the left side with a number of cracks and chips: there are, however, no large missing pieces. It is also possible that the garnet has been reset at some point throughtout its history. 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 cultered city. Roman jewellery was enriched and embellished with precious stones, semi-precious stones and glass beads. Measurements: L 0.85 cm x W 0.45 cm Weight: 0.15g Provenance: Ex Japanese private collection, deceased, 1970-2010.