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Source Description
Byzantine craftsmen revived the Hellenistic tradition of incorporating multicolored gemstones in jewelry, which was not common during the Roman imperial period. The ten sections of this openwork diadem were each adorned with a central gem and pearls, now missing. The diadem was sewn onto a headband of leather or cloth with holes so wearers could adjust the size. Similar pieces were also worn as neckbands. This example would most likely have been worn by members of the imperial family as its amethysts evoke the imperial color purple.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
3439
label
Diadem
core
obj
dtoType
object
citationUrl
pageCount
2
Source metadata
id
3439
sourceUrl
contentType
object
stage
normalized
title
Diadem
description
Byzantine craftsmen revived the Hellenistic tradition of incorporating multicolored gemstones in jewelry, which was not common during the Roman imperial period. The ten sections of this openwork diadem were each adorned with a central gem and pearls, now missing. The diadem was sewn onto a headband of leather or cloth with holes so wearers could adjust the size. Similar pieces were also worn as neckbands. This example would most likely have been worn by members of the imperial family as its amethysts evoke the imperial color purple.
provenance
Ernest Guilhou, Paris, by purchase; Collection of Guilhou Sale, Paris, July 16-18, 1905, no. 272; Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1905, by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
date
4th-5th century (Late Antique)
citationUrl
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
genreSpecific
Gold, Silver & Jewelry
diadems
jewelry
imageCount
2
pageCount
2
source
import
dimensions
units
cm
width
31.1
height
2.9
depth
0.9
dimensionsRaw
H: 12 1/4 x W: 1 1/8 x D: 3/8 in. (31.1 x 2.86 x 0.9 cm)
Source extras
cul
Byzantine
med
gold, amethyst, emeralds
creator_ids
6640
collection_ids
BYZ
JWL
exhibition_ids
1954
2054
2107
358
2227
2513
2704
Page inventory
seq
1
type
photo
mediaId
6d88d8780420f884
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
2
type
photo
mediaId
2a581b7af0b0a354
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no