Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine), circa 500 – 700 AD.
This solid high karat (approximately 21.92 Kt) gold cross with straight arms is embellished with a cabochon cut garnet set in a gold bowl shape bezel. The arms of the cross are faceted so they are octagonal in section and reflect light at different angles.
This cross is very special because it is solid, not hollow as most Byzantine crosses from that period, and it has faceted arms while most crosses are plain. The fine quality bowl shape bezel and the way it is mounted to the cross, reveal finer craftsmanship.
A gold and garnet Byzantine cross from the 6th – 7th century AD is published in Treasures of the Farrell Collection by Jeffrey Spier. A Byzantine cross with a similar bowl shape bezel is published in Catalog of The Byzantine and Early Mediaeval Antiquities In The Dumbarton Oaks Collection, Volume 2.
The 22K gold wire bail is modern and was made to accommodate a thicker chain.
Metal analysis: 91.35% gold, 7.34% silver, 1.31% copper.
The cross measures (without the wire bail) 38 x 28 mm (1 1/2 x 1 1/8 in.)
Weight is 10.2 grams.
