< Back to Search

Collection Item: Pendant

Basic info

Collection
Archaeology
Object name
Pendant
Object category
Roman
Description
Oval pendant with a polished back but the front has faded to a dull, deep brown finish. A rectangular suspension tube with two transverse grooves lies at the top. The edge of the front is raised to enclose the busts of a man and a woman facing slightly towards each other. The woman is the larger of the two figures and wears her hair in a manner reminiscent of the Medusa pendants. Her back hair is caught up at the nape and cross-hatching over her back hair may imply that she is wearing a snood. She wears a draped garment under an outer robe which crosses over her chest and has wide decorated borders. The man to her left wears a cloak held in place by a disc brooch and a band runs across his chest from his left shoulder. This is the only jet pendant from a British site which shows a couple rather than an embracing pair. Described by Eboracum as having "a lug at the top perforated for suspension... an upright oval conatins teo facing busts of husband and wife, carved in relief and representing three-quarter face, with shoulders draped in richly border garments. The man has short crpped hair in the style of the Tetrarchy, the woman's hair is parted in the middle, braided at the front and looped or bagged behind." Reflective spectroscopy analyses by Allason-Jones and Jones 2001 produced an optical reflection of 0.21%, identifying the material as true jet.
Production date start
43
Production date end
410
Period
Roman

More info

Identification

Object number
YORYM : H2442
Number of objects
1
ID
1393

Physical Characteristics

Materials
Jet (Whole)
Dimensions
Whole height 50.0 mm
Whole width 39.0 mm

Find spot

Place
York

Production

Technique
Carved