Polychrome Style During the Great Migration Period

These ornaments are decorated with red stones, primarily garnets and carnelians, and occasionally amber. The combination of these stones with a golden base created an impression of extraordinary splendor.

The first group is characterized by ornamentation with the stone cabochons inserted into separate soldered plate-like sockets. Rows of inserts are complemented with triangle patterns of tiny gold granules, filigree and stamped braids and hems.

The foundation of this style can be traced back to the Hellenistic period.   Eastern influences and established connections with sources of precious stones caused a trend of embellishing products with numerous gemstones and filigree ornaments.

This type of ornamentation was not typical of Greco-Roman art in the preceding period. Cloisonné inlay was primarily widespread in the East, in Asian countries. In the North Black Sea region and further into Europe this new phenomenon appeared specifically during the Hunnic era.