Circa 100-300 AD A sophisticated gold necklace with a loop in loop strand, rope-like in appearance, openwork beads connected with spacers, the chain shows particularly fine workman. Due to its fine workman, it is believed to be made by an atelier in Rome. As in many other ancient societies and cultures, jewellery was an important and influential social marker and used to demonstrate wealth and power, which flourish during the Imperial period (27 BC - 1453 AD). The ancient Romans considered jewellery to be an essential accessory, of which it first followed trends set by the Etruscans using gold and glass beads. Following the progression of the Roman Empire, Roman jewellery became more and more elaborately detailed in designs influenced from difficult cultural styles such as Greece, Egypt, North Africa and the Orient, a variation of materials were used, such as the use of precious and semi-precious gemstones. This necklace displays the loop in loop attachment system which produces a distinctive type of jewellery, popular in many ancient cultures which was first seen as far back as the Early Bronze Age. The ancient Romans were renown for theirplex designs of which they could aplish due to their extensive trade network of imports which provided access to exotic materials. Whilst wealthy men were known to collect fine art such as silver wares and sculptures, wearing one or several rings was typically enough. However, Roman men also wore bracelets, collars with pendants and torcs. Although most of the remaining ancient Roman jewellery resembles Greek and Etruscan designs, new forms were developed and borrowed from other cultures. A great deal of Roman jewellery was still made by Greek artisans, or important from Egypt. There was a lot of pressure in terms of fashion, to adjust to the style accepted at the time. The item has undergone X-ray fluorescence analysis to confirm the metallurgical content suggesting its ancient origin and lack of modern trace elements. Size: L:205mm; 29.5g Provenance: Property of a London Gentleman; formerly in a private UK collection formed in the the 1990s.