Georgian Silver Memento Mori Ring with Skull and Snakes

A Greek style marble archaic kouros statue carved with braided hair held by a diadem, arms held straight at the sides, legs in advancing pose. 16.5 kg, 71 cm high



French collection, 1960s-early 2000s. From an important Paris gallery, France.

The kouros (free-standing nude male youth) first appeared in ancient Greece in the Archaic Greek period; kouros figures have been found across the Greek-speaking world, concentrated mainly in sanctuaries of Apollo. The term means ‘male youth, particularly one of noble rank’; when a pubescent boy came of age in ancient Greece, he was known as a kouros, at which point he could participate in the initiation feast of the brotherhood. The god Apollo was known as the greatest kouros. Typically life-sized, these figures were produced in marble, but have also been found in limestone, wood, bronze and terracotta. The female counterpart is the kore.

A copper-alloy ring composed of a slightly convex hoop, expanding shoulders and shield-shaped bezel, the shoulders and bezel engraved with flowering plants. 3.50 grams, 24.25 mm overall, 22.11 mm internal diameter (approximate size British W 1/2, USA 11 1/4, Europe 25.66, Japan 24)



Private collection formed since the 1940s. UK art market. Property of an Essex gentleman.

A silver memento mori ring with D-section hoop expanding at the shoulders to a facetted bezel, openwork flower bud to each shoulder, incised hatched triangles to the scooped facets above, 'MORS' inscribed to the upper panel, 'SOIFI' to the lower; pale gold insert to central cell engraved with a skull amid entwined snakes. 10.11 grams, 26.62 mm overall, 18.12 mm internal diameter (approximate size British P, USA 7 1/2, Europe 16.23, Japan 15)

Fine condition. Resized.

Acquired since before 1970. Ex private collection of a West Sussex, UK, collector.