Roman Silver Ring with Animal

An oval red carnelian intaglio gemstone engraved with a togate male figure leaning on a long staff. 0.7 grams. 14 mm



From the Fortuna collection of engraved gems; acquired on the European art market in the late 1960s-early 1970s. Private collection, Suffolk, UK.

With an elliptical body, short neck and thick everted rim, with modelled wrinkles imitating the texture of a dried date. 16.22 grams, 78 mm



Acquired from Millennium Antiquities, Lancashire, UK, in 2001. From the collection of a Bedfordshire, UK lady. Accompanied by an original Millennium Antiquities invoice dated 28 June 2001.

Dates were not only a staple of the Mediterranean diet, used to sweeten food and wine, but also a symbol for the New Year and a fruit often given as a gift on the occasion.

Scaraboid type with incuse design to the underside of an elephant with stars above; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 3.04 grams, 17 mm



From the private collection of a European gentleman (1942-2024), formed since the 1970s.

The Romans first encountered elephants in Pyrrhos' army, and the representation of elephants in Roman art begins from this period. Victorious emperors like Caesar and Vespasian celebrated elephants on their coins. Apart from the celebration of elephants as ‘war machines’, the image of elephants was linked to other aspects in the Roman Imperial Period. Before becoming emperor, Elagabalus was one of the priests of Helios-Sun worship in Emesa. He had elephant depictions on his coins during his reign. The elephants raise their heads to the sun when the sun rises. Thus, the sun is represented on the gemstone together with the elephant.