Details

LOT 0118

Roman Gold Ring with Gemstones

4TH-5TH CENTURY AD

3/4" (4.72 grams, 23.5mm overall, 19.2mm internal diameter (approximate size British P 1/2, USA 8, Europe 17.15, Japan 16)).

A gold ring worked from a single piece of gold, the hoop comprising oval plaques set with garnet and sapphire cabochons, interspersed with delicate gold bars.

Provenance

Property of a London gentleman; formerly acquired before 1970; accompanied by a copy of a four page report from Striptwist Ltd, a London-based company run by historical precious metal specialist Dr Jack Ogden, reference number 191014; an academic report by Dr Raffaele D'Amato; and an independent specialist report and valuation by graduate gemmologist and jewellery expert Anna Rogers, GIA GG, BA, Gem-A, ref. no. 0118/02/06/2020; this lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by AIAD certificate number no.155124-10026.

Literature

Cf. Marshall, F.H., Dictionnaire Catalogue of the finger rings Greek, Etruscan & Roman in the departments of Antiquities of British Museum, London, 1968, p. 157, pl. XXV, n. 982; Spier, J., Ancient Gems and finger rings, Malibu, 1992, p. 132, n. 357; Ruseva-Slokoska, L., Roman Jewellery, Sofia, 1991, p. 99, for variant III, type 1.

Footnotes

The taste for precious and finely carved stones set on rings was introduced to Rome through contact with Greek culture. If originally the Romans wore the rings only on the fourth finger, very soon they wore them on three fingers of the hand. Quintilian reproached the orators who wore rings on all of their fingers, a custom which, he said, was appropriate only for dandies and women. Rings were not customarily worn on the middle finger owing to its association with an obscene gesture which survives to this day. Wearing a particularly large or heavy ring was considered a status symbol, and multiple rings could be worn on one finger.

CONDITION