You may not realize how elaborate. The piece is typical of Anglo Saxon garnet cloissone jewelry that required amazing craftsmanship and an enormous amount of goldsmithing/lapidary knowledge.
Each little channel was filled with a thin slice of red garnet individually shaped to fit precisely by friction only, no adhesives. The source of the garnet is presently unknown, probably either Bohemia or India, both of which were available to artisans at the time. Because garnet tends to be dark and absorbs light, it's wonderful red color was lighted from below by a tiny piece of gold sheet that was carefully engraved and fitted to serve as a mirror.
There's an awesome display in the British Museum of many regal cloissone objects recovered from the Sutton Hoo ship hoard:
Objects in the same style were recovered -- badly mangled and probably buried war loot -- from the metal-detector treasure found on a farm near Birmingham just a few years ago. For a general view of Anglo Saxon cloissone check out:
Thanks for the information and links.
Long time ago I was involved with jewelry, I still find it interesting.
I am wracking my brain, I have seen similar pieces in a book. I just cannot remember where, all I can rememberit was not anglo saxon origin.
At one time I had access to some old texts, english and french if memory serves. There were some old pictures of cloisonne, at the time I was amazed at detail, I have vague memory that was Indian or Eastern European origin.
You are correct on the level or skill and knowledge required for this type of work.
What I find most amazing is that modern people think that this type of skillis something new.
It also not only in jewelery making, I see it in engineering, mechanical and building trades.
Sometimes we as modern people forget that our ancestors were intelligent and resourceful folks.
Part of the problem, is the lack of written records.
I suppose tradesman would pass knowledge through the family. When the family dies so did the secrets.
I suppose it is enough to appreciate the talent, even if I do not possess the same.