Roman Silver Ring with Garnet

Depicting a nude blacksmith seated on a stool before a forge, hammer in his right hand, holding an object he is hammering with the other hand. 0.25 grams, 10 mm



Private collection, North Germany. with Gorny & Mosch, 14 December 2005, no.238. Accompanied by a copy of an Art Loss Register certificate no.S00075379.

Probably a Roman copy of a Hellenistic subject. Some Roman ring intaglios were dedicated to Vulcan (Greek Hephaestus), god of the blacksmiths, artisans, and carpenters. Usually, the god is represented standing or working in his forge, wearing a wide-brimmed hat and a one-shouldered tunic, identifying him as a craftsman. In his right hand, he holds a hammer over an anvil, and in his left a pair of long metalworking tongs. Sometimes he is naked, seated and working.

Aqua glass drum-shaped jar with everted rim and rounded base. 34.58 grams, 70 mm



Acquired Christie's, London, Antiquities, Works of Art and Important Renaissance Bronzes, Plaquettes and Limoges Enamels, 8 July 1981, no.617 (part). From a private Wiltshire, UK, collection. Accompanied by a copy of the relevant Christie's catalogue pages.

Each an aqua glass disc with shallow depression, integral tapering shank. 68 grams total, 32.5-39 mm



with Archaeologia, Switzerland, before 1983. Ex private North American collection. London private collection, 2016.