Early Byzantine breast-chain
- Gallery: Room 41
- Culture: Early Byzantine
- Date: 7thC(early)
- Object type: breast-chain
- Materials: gold
- Museum number: 1916,0704.1
- Museum: The British Museum
- Collection record: British Museum website
- Image © The Trustees of the British Museum, shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence.
Listen to the free audio guide
About this object
This is an "Early Byzantine breast-chain," a rare and intricate piece made of gold using the opus interrasile technique, a hallmark of Byzantine craftsmanship. You're looking at two central medallions connected by four delicate chains. Each medallion is a complex arrangement of smaller open-work circles, with a central quatrefoil enclosing four cinquefoils in a repeating, symmetrical pattern. Trefoils and scroll motifs fill the gaps, and soldered loops along each medallion’s edge connect to the chain links.
This treasure dates to the 7th century and was likely discovered near Antinoupolis or Asyut in Egypt. Made with remarkable precision, it reflects the fine goldsmithing traditions of the Early Byzantine period. The chain weighs over half a kilogram and stands as a stunning example of adornment and status in ancient times.
See it in person
Early Byzantine breast-chain is on display in Room 41 at the British Museum on Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London — free to enter. Choose British Museum on audioguide.london and take a photo of it to hear this free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
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