A ROMAN GOLD AND CARNELIAN INTAGLIO RING DEPICTING A MAIDEN, CIRCA 1ST–2ND CENTURY A.D.

拍品描述

A ROMAN GOLD AND CARNELIAN INTAGLIO RING DEPICTING A MAIDEN, CIRCA 1ST–2ND CENTURY A.D. A finely-wrought Roman ring in rich yellow gold, formed with a broad, softly convex hoop rising to an oval bezel of confident, architectural proportion. The overall silhouette is one of restrained opulence, the polished metal presenting a continuous, sculptural surface designed to frame and elevate the engraved gemstone at its centre. Set within the bezel is an oval carnelian intaglio of saturated, translucent red, engraved with the right-facing profile of a maiden. The portrait is rendered with elegant economy: the facial features cleanly cut, the hair arranged in stylised locks beneath a veil or mantle, and the neck subtly modelled to create depth. The warm glow of the carnelian is heightened by the surrounding gold, producing a vivid chromatic contrast typical of Roman gem-set jewellery of the early Imperial period. The bezel is bordered by a delicately ribbed collar, creating a fine beaded rhythm around the stone and catching the light with each movement. At the cardinal points, small rounded bosses accent the setting, lending both visual emphasis and a sense of protective enclosure. The reverse of the bezel is smoothly finished, while the hoop retains a pleasing solidity, intended for daily wear and for the practical function of sealing, the intaglio engraved in negative for impression into wax. Within Roman society, the gem-set ring served not merely as ornament but as an emblem of identity and authority, carried on the hand as a personal device and often used to authenticate correspondence and transactions. The youthful female portrait—whether idealised, symbolic, or allusive—evokes the classical language of virtue, beauty, and lineage, offering its wearer a cultivated image rooted in the visual culture of the Empire. A distinguished example of Roman personal adornment, uniting the intimacy of engraved portraiture with the enduring prestige of gold and the enduring talismanic power of the engraved stone. Length of Stone: 1.3 cm Internal Diameter: 1.8 cm

图片