Description:

**Originally Listed At $900**

Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. A pretty Roman carnelian intaglio of a stylized sphinx striding left set in a modern 18K gold ring. The ring is comprised of a raised, annular bezel with 3 baubles on each shoulder and a bifurcated band. Although the Great Sphinx of Giza is certainly the most famous, sphinxes have a large place in Classical mythology as well - probably because of the intermixing of Egyptian and Classical culture via trade routes across the Mediterranean. The Greco-Roman version of the sphinx, unlike the male Egyptian one, is the head of a human female, the body of a lioness, the wings of an eagle, and a serpent's tail. Size of ring: 1" L x 0.9" W (2.5 cm x 2.3 cm); of intaglio: 0.3" W (0.8 cm); US ring size: 9.75; quality of gold: 77.33% (equivalent to over 18 karats); weight: 5.1 grams

Provenance: private Danvers, Massachusetts, USA collection, acquired by descent; ex-USA collection, acquired before 2000

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#179218

  • Condition: Minor nick to intaglio, but otherwise intact, wearable, and in excellent overall condition. Carnelian is ancient; ring setting is modern. Light encrustations to recessed areas of ring setting.

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December 28, 2023 8:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000