Post-Medieval — Late 16th century - early 17th century
Counterfeit spinel pendant
Gold pendant with irregular shaped 'firestone' with the loop enamelled white. This jewel, fashioned from an irregular piece of polished quartz, appears to have been deliberately coloured, cut and shaped to represent an asymmetrical spinel (balas ruby). The robustly constructed suspension loop is soldered to a gold (or copper alloy) rod which passes through the central drill hole. The stone has been drilled from both ends and the rough edges of the bore holes are covered by decorative gold caps (the upper sexfoil and the lower octofoil) overlain with white and black enamel. Part of the Cheapside Hoard.
- Category:
- Post-Medieval
- Object ID:
- A14103
- Object name:
- Counterfeit spinel pendant
- Object type:
- Artist/Maker:
- Sympson, Thomas?
- Related people:
- Related events:
- Related places:
- Production date:
- late 16th century - early 17th century
- Material:
rock crystal (macrocrystalline quartz, silicon dioxide, crystal system - hexagonal/trigonal), gold, copper alloy, enamel
- Measurements/duration:
- L 32 mm, W 18 mm, D 17 mm, WT 10.80g, RI 1.544-1.553, SG 2.65, Mohs 7
- Part of:
- —
- On display:
- —
- Record quality:
- 100%
- Part of this object:
- —
- Owner Status & Credit:
Permanent collection
- Copyright holder:
digital image © London Museum
- Image credit:
- —
- Creative commons usage:
- —
- License this image:
To license this image for commercial use, please contact the London Museum Picture Library.