The Career of an Orange Stone

Abstract

The analysis of archaeological works of art involves their formal, thematic and interpretative description. The importance of these stages rests in their potential to reveal the biography of an artefact. Research methods investigating the production technology behind an object are a valuable factor extending the field of interpretation of a given object. Each finished work is the result of a creative process whose deconstruction might lead not only understanding the artefact itself but also to new perceptions of its creator, artist/craftsperson and the community in which they functioned (Śliwa, 2018, p.68). Using an experimental method, this article sets out to focus on the sequence and outcome of production stages in the engraving of a Roman gem of carnelian.

Keywords

• stone working
• jewellery
• roman era
• italy