One-of-a-kind granulated gold, hand carved rock crystal and rubellite tourmaline (1.41ct) cylinder seal amulet. Inspired by ancient cylinder seals from Mesopotamia, the carvings are found in the decorated margins around the body of text on the pages of medieval illuminated manuscripts (hence 'marginalia') held in the Getty museum.
The original cylinder seals were impression stamps, used by everyone from royalty to slaves, to authorize transactions, control the movement and storage of goods, as protective amulets or charms and as signs of personal identity or professional affiliation. A seal was a prized possession and its loss was taken as seriously as losing a credit card or identity theft is taken today.They were worn by their owners, around the neck on a cord or pinned to an item of clothing and were typically between 7-10 cm (or 3-4 in) long.
Handmade in recycled 22k yellow gold.