Byzantine Gold Marriage Ring

拍品描述

Circa 6th-7th century A.D. D-section hoop with expanding shoulders, trumpet-shaped bezel with two facing busts and a cross between and a nimbate bearded bust above, legend 'OMONOIA' (harmony) below. Cf. similar subject in a ring from Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, accession no.63.1555; see also The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Romans and Barbarians, Boston, 1976, p.179, no.202; Chadour, A.B., Rings. The Alice and Louis Koch Collection, volume I, Leeds, 1994, item 489, for type. 9.62 grams, 23.93 mm overall, 18.92 mm internal diameter (approximate size British R 1/2, USA 8 3/4, Europe 19.38, Japan 18) (1 in.). [A video of this lot is available to view on TimeLine Auctions Website] From an important Byzantine collection, formed in the 1970s, Surrey, UK. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13347-258734. The marriage ring is one of the typologies in which figural decorations are frequently found. Generally speaking, marriage rings are engraved with a representation of a husband and wife, sometimes accompanied by Christ, and usually engraved with wishes for 'harmony, health and the grace of God'. Rings of this type had been used since the late 4th century A.D. and remained extremely popular in Byzantium in the 6th and 7th centuries. TimeLine Auctions follows a rigorous vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists. See our website for more information.

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