Unknown Maker, Roman

Sheet gold, or thin metal made by hammering a gold ingot on an anvil, was used throughout antiquity to create lustrous objects, like this bead. To form its barrel shape, two small pieces of gold sheet were bent into the desired form and then soldered together. A double row of tiny gold balls, referred to as granulations, was adhered to the bead to disguise the solder joint. The all-over granulation cluster designs, however, are purely decorative. To provide further embellishment, pieces of gold wire were attached to both ends and then pinched or chiseled. This ornate bead was probably part of a necklace.