Roman - Beaded Necklaces

Roman - Beaded Necklaces

Selection of necklaces with Roman beads. All necklaces are restrung with modern stringing materials and clasp to make them wearable or suitable for display.

Ancient Romans appreciated complex jewellery designs and used a wide range of materials. Semi-precious stones like lapis lazuli, emeralds, jasper and carnelian were very popular. They were imported from various parts of the Roman Empire or via the trade routes which stretched from the Baltic area, the Persian Gulf, the Silk Road to the Far East.

The lower classed Romans used cheaper imitations of glass or various metal alloys to reduce the cost of manufacture while displaying their social status.

Jewellery was of particular importance to women in Roman society. They had the right to buy, sell or barter their jewellery independantly as it was considered their own personal property. Jewellery for children not only showed the wealth and social status of the parents, it often included amulets to protect the children from illness and ward off evil forces.