Fragment of a Necklace
3rd century
Medium
Gold
Dimensions
11.5 × 1.6 cm (4 1/2 × 3 in.)
Classification
necklace
Department
Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
845
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
The stylized bird forms seen here in repeating pairs were a popular motif in 3rd century Rome, and many similair works have been excavated at a wide array of European sites; though their significance beyond the decorative is yet unknown.
About the Artist
Ancient Roman
The artists attributed to "Ancient Roman" in museum collections represent the anonymous craftsmen who produced the vast output of sculpture, frescoes, mosaics, and reliefs defining Roman visual culture from the Republic (c. 509–27 BCE) to the late Empire (c. 395 CE). Individual identities remain elusive, as Roman makers were typically viewed as skilled tradesmen—often enslaved Greeks or provincial...