CROSS, RING AND LAMINA WITH ENAMEL IN THE SO-CALLED TOMB OF GISULFO – DATABLE BETWEEN 700 AND 750 – MUSEO ARCHEOLOGICO NAZIONALE, CIVIDALE

The lovely cross found in Cividale in a tomb known as “Gisulfo’s” is the most important example of gold foil.

The rich decorations is made up of eight heads of a typical Lombard relief, and of nine stones set in laminar alveolus; a round oriental garnet in the centre, four triangular lapis lazuli and for aquamarines.

The noble gold foil that was at the centre of a capsella, with enamel of a clear Byzantine character portraying a web-footed bird; and a massive gold ring with a golden image of Tiberius at the centre were also found in that same tomb.