Lot 42
Greco-Roman, Eastern Mediterranean, ca. 1st century BCE to 1st century CE. A refined example of luxury, this high-karat gold ring showcases the technical precision and aesthetic sophistication of elite craftsmanship. Cast in 22.5 karat gold, the ring is crowned with a rich cobalt blue glass cabochon, its oval form nestled within a raised, ovular bezel framed by two meticulously braided registers of gold wire. This double-wire filigree is not merely ornamental but a testament to the goldsmith's command of delicate, decorative texture. The bezel is flanked at each shoulder by five globular nodules of granulation - clustered like a constellation, providing both visual weight and a tactile transition into the flattened, oval hoop. The band tapers with a subtle curve, bearing the hallmarks of hand-forged shaping rather than mold-cast regularity. Size: 0.8" L x 1.1" W (2.0 cm x 2.8 cm); US ring size: 4.5; gold quality: 93.7% (about 22.5 karats); weight: 5.9 grams
Viewed from beneath, the gem reveals the open underside of the bezel, allowing light to filter through the glass and casting deep shadows into its flecked cobalt body.
Blue glass was prized throughout the Roman world for its resemblance to lapis lazuli and its symbolic association with the heavens, protection, and the divine. Rings like this one, combining precious metal and colored glass, were not only status objects but also amuletic, worn for both ornament and safeguarding.
Parallels to this form are found in Roman jewelry collections across Europe and the Levant, including examples from Antioch, Alexandria, and Roman Palestine, where local workshops flourished under imperial patronage. The fusion of elegant geometry, skilled goldwork, and rich materiality suggests this ring once adorned the hand of a high-status individual - perhaps a member of the provincial elite or an urban matron of wealth and taste.
Provenance: private Toronto, Ontario collection; ex-private Yanai collection, Tokyo, Japan
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
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#195772
- Condition: Some light wear commensurate with age, but otherwise, excellent and wearable, with intact cabochon and well-preserved filigree work. Scattered earthen deposits in areas.
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