Moss Agate Necklace

In the workshops of ancient Rome, skilled gem engravers transformed small pieces of polished stone into miniature works of art. Agate, a variety of chalcedony admired for its natural colours and patterns, was among the materials fashioned into engraved ring stones, seals and personal ornaments.

Moss agate was particularly distinctive for its green mineral inclusions, which form branching patterns resembling foliage within translucent stone. Roman craftsmen worked with this naturally varied material, carefully polishing and engraving its surface to create detailed images on an exceptionally small scale.

Two remarkable examples preserved in The Metropolitan Museum of Art illustrate this tradition. One, dating to the second century AD, depicts the facing portrait busts of a woman and a bearded man. Another, dating from approximately the first century BC to the third century AD, portrays a man riding a tortoise. Both demonstrate the precision of Roman gemstone engraving and the place of moss agate within ancient jewellery craftsmanship.

The Shinar Jewels Moss Agate Necklace draws upon this heritage of personal adornment. Slender natural moss agate beads, each displaying individual patterns of green and translucent stone, are paired with faceted golden hematite. A contemporary interpretation of the enduring appreciation for decorative gemstones, from the engraved jewels of ancient Rome to modern jewellery design.