The Secret

Item

One of a kind pendant necklace.  A Merovingian gold and garnet jewel from the 5th - 7th century AD, suspended on a handmade 18-carat gold and garnet bead necklace.

About

The crown jewel in our collection.  The centrepiece, around 1,400 years old, is 20 grams of the finest ancient gold.  It is set with an original point-cut garnet, imported by the Merovingians from India.

It is a breath-taking design with striking architecture.  It is shaped like a jewelled keyhole, a form which is represented in many ancient cultures as a gateway.  The hefty, solid gold hoop has two studded, articulating arms and a rivetted shield-shaped gem setting.

"The Secret" evokes the mysterious history of this piece and the distinctive keyhole shape.  It is an opulent treasure from the dawn of medieval Europe and the only piece of its kind.

One available.

Centrepiece

The Merovingians were a Frankish tribe descended from Merovech, whose name meant 'famed fighter'.  They became the first kings of France and caused the formation of both France and Germany. 

The Merovingians had the custom of burying valued personal possessions with their leaders, leading to the discovery of hoards such as the Treasure of Gourdon and Childeric's Treasure.  The gold in this buckle has been XRF tested as over 96% pure (just over 23-carat) and matches the Childeric gold. 

This artefact was acquired from a private collection and checked against the Art Loss Register.

Details

• Necklace length:  47cm / 18.5 inches.  Length can be customised.
• Pendant dimension: 18mm x 39mm
• Total weight: 40g
• Care instructions supplied upon enquiry
• Enquire to purchase