Roman Philosopher Intaglio Ring
From the Journal
Intaglio Rings and Jewellery: A Collector's Guide
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An ancient Roman gold ring of the mid-1st century AD, with a blue glass intaglio of a seated philosopher studying a herm.The bearded philosopher holds a scroll before a herm (a pillar topped by a carved head). The image stood for 'paideia', Greek learning and virtue, and was worn as a seal by educated Romans: officials, doctors, lawyers and teachers. Its small size suggests it belonged to a young person or a woman of the same circle.Two closely related glass intaglios in the British Museum (1814,0704.2373 and 1814,0704.2834) are traced to a glass workshop at Pompeii, probably the source of this one; others are in the Marlborough Gems and the Met. Those survive as loose gems, but this one remains in its original gold mount, with a hollow tapered hoop and truncated bezel.A rare personal seal of learning from the Roman world.Details: mid-1st century AD; Roman; tests as approx. 22-23K gold; blue glass intaglio 12mm x 7mm; bezel stands 4mm; UK F½, US 3; 1.64g.Condition: Remarkably well preserved in its original mount. Please ask for a detailed condition report.
An ancient Roman gold ring of the mid-1st century AD, with a blue glass intaglio of a seated philosopher studying a herm.
The bearded philosopher holds a scroll before a herm (a pillar topped by a carved head). The image stood for 'paideia', Greek learning and virtue, and was worn as a seal by educated Romans: officials, doctors, lawyers and teachers. Its small size suggests it belonged to a young person or a woman of the same circle.
Two closely related glass intaglios in the British Museum (1814,0704.2373 and 1814,0704.2834) are traced to a glass workshop at Pompeii, probably the source of this one; others are in the Marlborough Gems and the Met. Those survive as loose gems, but this one remains in its original gold mount, with a hollow tapered hoop and truncated bezel.
A rare personal seal of learning from the Roman world.
Details: mid-1st century AD; Roman; tests as approx. 22-23K gold; blue glass intaglio 12mm x 7mm; bezel stands 4mm; UK F½, US 3; 1.64g.
Condition: Remarkably well preserved in its original mount. Please ask for a detailed condition report.
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