Roman Silver Ring with 'of him who is virtuous, beautiful' Garnet Gemstone

LATE 2ND-EARLY 3RD CENTURY A.D.

7/8 in. (6.42 grams, 22.80 mm overall, 16.58 mm internal diameter (approximate size British E, USA 2 1/4, Europe 2.41, Japan 2)).

Comprising a D-section hoop with angled shoulders; applied gold sheet with hatched border to the bezel, set with a dark set carnelian intaglio engraved with a monogram 'ΚΑΛΟΥ' (of him who is virtuous, beautiful). [No Reserve]

Provenance

Property of a North American gallery since the 1990s.

Literature

Cf. Ruseva-Slokoska, L., Roman Jewellery, Sofia, 1991, pp.189-190, nos.240-244, for variant I, type II of the Ruseva-Slokoska classification.

Footnotes

This category of silver rings, with rounded shoulders is characteristic of the 3rd century A.D. This is also supported by the dating of the Sliven treasury, a grave find with coins dated to the 2nd-3rd century A.D., where a high conically cut gem decorated with the image of Helios was found on a similar ring, with a high bezel (like here) decorated in its oblique part with oblique hatches resembling pearl-like cord.

CONDITION

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LOT 0109