AN UNUSUAL ROMAN GOLD, GARNET AND SAPPHIRE CONJOINED RING

LATE 2ND/3RD CENTURY A.D.

Details

AN UNUSUAL ROMAN GOLD, GARNET AND SAPPHIRE CONJOINED RING
LATE 2ND/3RD CENTURY A.D.
The solid tapering gold hoop broadening to two bezels, one set with an oval garnet intaglio carved with a profile bust wearing a fillet, hand raised towards the lips, the opposite bezel mounted with an oval cabochon sapphire
.7/8 in. (2.1 cm.) across inner hoop

Lot Essay

Cf. B. Chadour-Sampson, Ancient Rings: The Alain Ollivier Collection, Munich, 1997, pp. 136-139, no. 29 for a similar single bezel ring with sapphire intaglio. During the Roman period, sapphires were imported from India or Sri Lanka.

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