Bedouin Silver-Coloured Metal Ring with Gemstone

Carefully rendered bust of Christ facing left, crown of thorns resting on his curly hair, short beard and pained expression on his face; set in a gold mount with applied ropework collars, pin and catch on the reverse. 16.3 grams, 42 mm



Acquired on the European art market. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13404-257986.

It was believed that the scarlet flecks in the stone were the blood of Christ, hence its popular use for the subject of Christ throughout the Middle Ages until the 19th century.

An oval intaglio finely engraved with a classical scene, at the centre a herm upon a plinth, flanked by two figures: the woman on the left wearing a gown with loose drapery falling across her arms, while the figure to the right is shown nude, the body scarcely veiled by a fine transparent cloth; at the far right a sacrificial altar surmounted by a lyre, introducing a musical or poetic dimension to the scene and emphasising its votive character; mounted in an ornate 18th-century French gold fob mount, pierced with scrolling foliate ornament and stamped with duty marks; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 6.60 grams, 25 mm



Acquired on the European art market.

The gem, cut in the 16th century, reflects the Renaissance revival of antique glyptic art, where Roman prototypes were carefully studied and reinterpreted with elegance and precision. The finely executed incision and harmonious arrangement of clothed and unclothed figures highlight the engraver’s technical mastery and antiquarian erudition.

Composed of tubular, oblate and biconical beads with a teardrop-shaped pendant, restrung. 9.28 grams, 34 cm



Acquired in the 1990s-early 2000s. Ex London, UK, collection.