4TH CENTURY A.D.

Details

A ROMAN EARLY CHRISTIAN SILVER MARRIAGE RING
4TH CENTURY A.D.
The bezel engraved in relief with a married couple, the frontally facing draped portrait busts of a husband and wife both with curly hair, the woman's hair coiled into a chignon above, wearing a necklace; above them stands a youthful figure of Christ wearing a tunic and cloak, holding wreaths or marriage crowns over each of the couple's heads, a semicircular inscription runs around the edge of the upper half of the bezel, with tapering hoop
15/8 in. (1.7 cm.) across inner hoop

Special notice

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Lot Essay

The iconography of this ring can be related to the series of 4th Century A.D. Roman gold-glass roundels from bowls. As well as overtly Christian scenes with Christ and the saints, husbands and wives are also represented, as well as family scenes. Many of the glass roundels also have inscriptions similar in style to the ring above, cf. D. B. Harden, Glass of the Caesars, Milan, 1987, p. 282, no. 157, for a similar scene with a married couple and Christ in gold-glass, which is inscribed "Sweet-heart, may you live (long)"; also pp. 280-281, nos. 155-156, for married couples inscribed with their names; these roundels probably came from vessels made as wedding presents for those portrayed. The small figure holding the wreaths may be identified as Christ from other roundels inscribed with his name.

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