A Roman Gold and Garnet Lunar Pendant, Roman Imperial Period, ca. 2nd–3rd century CE

Hammered from a thin sheet of high-karat gold, this pendant takes the form of a crescent (lunula), its tips finished with applied gold knobs. At the center, a circular bezel contains a polished cabochon garnet. The suspension loop is a rolled tubular type, carefully fashioned for strength. The pendant is strung on a modern adjustable 18K yellow gold chain for wear.

The lunula was one of the most enduring forms of Roman amuletic jewelry, associated with the protective and regenerative powers of the moon. Such pendants were especially common in provincial workshops of the Eastern Mediterranean during the 2nd–3rd centuries CE, where the combination of sheet gold construction and garnet inlays was favored.

For related examples see: Marshall, F.H., Catalogue of the Jewellery, Greek, Etruscan, and Roman, British Museum, 1911, pl. XXXIV. and Ogden, J., Jewellery of the Ancient World, 1982, pp. 106–109. 

Medium: Gold, Garnet

Dimensions: Pendant width: 0.75 in. (1.9 cm)) Strung on a modern 18K gold chain adjustable up to 18 in / 45.7 cm.

Condition: with minor imperfections.

Provenance: Henry Anavian Family Collection NYC, acquired 1970s -1980s and then by descent.

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