CIRCA 2ND-3RD CENTURY A.D.

Details

A ROMAN GREEN CHALCEDONY RINGSTONE WITH A LION
CIRCA 2ND-3RD CENTURY A.D.
9/16 in. (1.2 cm.) wide; ring size 7 ½

Provenance

M.H. Nevil Story-Maskelyne (1823-1911), Wroughton, Wiltshire, acquired 1860-1899; thence by descent to his son-in-law, William Arnold-Forster (1886-1951), Cornwall.
Catalogue of the Story-Maskelyne Collection of Ancient Gems, the Property of W.E. Arnold Forster, Esq., Sotheby's, London, 4-5 July 1921, lot 242 (part).
Landsberg, acquired from the above (according to auctioneer's book).
Marjorie Bronfman (1917-2012), Montreal, acquired by 1978; gifted to her daughter, Dr. Corinne Bronfman (1947-2022), Washington, D.C.; thence by descent to the current owner.

Conditions of sale

Brought to you by

Hannah Fox Solomon Head of Department, Specialist

hsolomon@christies.com +1 212 636 2256

Lot Essay

On this gem is a lion walking to the left on a groundline, with a deer head in its mouth. There is a crescent moon above and a star below. It is mounted as a ring in a 19th century gold setting; the underside of the bezel incised with the number 242, corresponding to the lot number from the Story-Maskelyne auction.

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