Lot 304
304
AN ISLAMIC GOLD PENDANT, ornamented with an openwork cross, the whole decorated with filigree S-scrolls interspersed with granules, the centre of the cross mounted with an earlier East Roman garnet intaglio inscribed OMA, the outer edge with loop originally to support a wire threaded with pearls, but now with three drop pearl pendants, two gold suspension loops above (one loop repaired, possibly in antiquity, and slight damage at back), with a later loop-in-loop gold chain with emerald crystal bead, pendant 11th-12th Century A.D.

Details
AN ISLAMIC GOLD PENDANT, ornamented with an openwork cross, the whole decorated with filigree S-scrolls interspersed with granules, the centre of the cross mounted with an earlier East Roman garnet intaglio inscribed OMA, the outer edge with loop originally to support a wire threaded with pearls, but now with three drop pearl pendants, two gold suspension loops above (one loop repaired, possibly in antiquity, and slight damage at back), with a later loop-in-loop gold chain with emerald crystal bead, pendant 11th-12th Century A.D.
1¼in. (3.2cm.) across pendant; necklace 22½in. (57cm.) long

Lot Essay

This general form of ornament, although more common as an earring, is well-known in the Islamic world with a variety of central motifs, including a diagonal cross (as here), stars, V's etc. The 'S'-scroll is characteristic of many of these, cf. lot 335.

An almost identical pendant in the Louvre, AO. MAO325, is said to be from Syria, cf. L'Islam dans les collections Nationale, Paris, 1977, no. 363

More from Antiquities

View All
View All