Roman Gold Ring with Banded Glass

1ST CENTURY B.C.

3/4 in. (1.18 grams, 18.29 mm overall, 15.66 mm internal diameter (approximate size British G, USA 3 1/4, Europe 4.92, Japan 4)).

Hollow-formed with ellipsoid bezel, inset panel of banded iridescent glass bearing an image of a nude Greek hero with long hair, the head turned back, carrying branches, an amphora or jug at his feet.

Provenance

Acquired early 1990s.
Ex private American collection; thence by descent.
Private Swiss collection since 1998.

Literature

Cf. Chadour, A.B., Rings. The Alice and Louis Koch Collection, volume I, Leeds, 1994, item 103.

Footnotes

The inset glass bezel is probably archaic Greek or Etruscan and reused in Roman times. The traits of the man point to Archaic Hellenic features, especially the oval eyes and the long hair, and the pointed beard reminiscence of the Achaean heroes.

CONDITION

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LOT 0208