LOT 0222

Byzantine Architectural Electrum Ring with Emerald Engraved with a Dove

6TH-8TH CENTURY A.D.

1 1/2 in. (7.55 grams, 37.12 mm overall, 20.74 mm internal diameter (approximate size British W, USA 11, Europe 25, Japan 24)).

With facetted hoop and conical architectural bezel with applied filigree decoration, set with an emerald with engraved dove flying left.

Ex Michael O'hara collection, before 1989.
From the private collection of the late A.B., London, UK.

Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D’Amato.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12004-213033.

Cf. Chadour, A.B., Rings. The Alice and Louis Koch Collection, volume I, Leeds, 1994, items 483, 484, for the type; Baldini Lippolis, I., L'Oreficeria nell'Impero di Costantinopoli tra IV e VII secolo (the Jewellery in the Empire of Constantinople between IV and VII century, in Italian), Bari, 1999, pp.229ff, for the type of rings, items pp.202-203; Wamser, L., Die Welt von Byzanz - Europas Östliches Erbe, München, 2004, items 638-639, for similar types.

The quality of this finger ring suggests that it was the work of an excellent goldsmith who may have worked for the court in Constantinople or an important provincial imperial capital, like Ravenna or Carthage.