CIRCA 3RD CENTURY A.D.

Details

A ROMAN CARNELIAN RINGSTONE WITH THE GOOD SHEPHERD CARRYING A LAMB
CIRCA 3RD CENTURY A.D.
3/4 in. (1.9 cm.) long

Provenance

Giorgio Sangiorgi (1886-1965), Rome, acquired and brought to Switzerland, late 1930s; thence by continuous descent to the current owner.

Special notice

This lot has been imported from outside of the UK for sale and placed under the Temporary Admission regime. Import VAT is payable at 5% on the hammer price. VAT at 20% will be added to the buyer’s premium but will not be shown separately on our invoice.

Conditions of sale

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Lot Essay

The oval stone is engraved with the central figure of the Good Shepherd carrying a lamb, with two sheep at his feet looking up. The scene is framed by arching trees each with a bird seated in its branches and a star in the sky above. For a discussion on bucolic scenes, the Good Shepherd and Christian iconography see J. Spier, Late Antique and Early Christian Gems, Wiesbaden, 2007, pp. 53-62. Although the above gem does not have any added Christian symbols, such as fish, an anchor or chi-rho monograms, the stone, style of carving and the similarity in design all point towards the 3rd Century kriophoros type that would have been used by a Christian to show a sign of their faith.

More from Antiquities: Including Ancient Engraved Gems Formerly in the G. Sangiorgi Collection Part IV

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