A BYZANTINE GOLD AND AGATE CAMEO RING

CIRCA 5TH CENTURY A.D.

Details

A BYZANTINE GOLD AND AGATE CAMEO RING
CIRCA 5TH CENTURY A.D.
The hollow gold hoop with scrolling foliate shoulders, with raised rectangular bezel, the cameo carved in two layers, white on black, with clasped right hands (dextrarum iunctio), the female hand on left wearing bracelet, a Greek inscription below reading, 'Concord', a garland above
1 in. (2.5 cm.) wide; ring size F

Provenance

Private collection, Germany; acquired 1960-1981, and thence by descent to the present owner.

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Lot Essay

For related examples cf., M. Henig, The Content Cameos, Oxford, 1990, p. 28, no. 50, Henig notes (p. 8) that "the clasped hands of 'Concord' belong to betrothal and amity in life; but also have a more solemn meaning associated with 'memoria', as hand-shaking couples on gravestones signify."

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