Ancient Byzantine Gold Ring
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A rare and deeply evocative survivor from the early medieval Byzantine world, this high-karat gold ring dates to circa the 8th–10th century and is engraved with a sacred figural image of the Theotokos (Mother of God) holding the Christ Child. Rings of this type functioned not merely as personal adornment, but as miniature devotional icons, worn close to the body for protection, faith, and status.The ring is crafted in solid high-karat gold (approx 21K). The hoop broadens at the shoulders and is decorated with circular motifs, a common architectural treatment in Byzantine metalwork that visually frames and elevates the central bezel. The circular bezel measures approximately 9mm in diameter and bears a representation of the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child; both engraved figures are filled with niello against the gold ground.Niello is a decorative technique involving a black metallic alloy composed primarily of silver, copper, lead, and sulphur. The powdered alloy is fused into engraved recesses of the metal surface through heating, then polished flush to create a striking black or dark grey contrast. While niello was widely used on silver throughout Antiquity, its application to gold was particularly favoured in Byzantine jewellery.A closely related example is on loan to the Metropolitan Museum of Art (accession L.2015.72.49). Numerous comparable rings with nielloed religious imagery are preserved in the renowned Byzantine collection of the Dumbarton Oaks museum, including accession numbers BZ.1974.23, BZ.1968.8, BZ.1958.37, BZ.1969.77, BZ.1937.27, and BZ.1953.12.7. These parallels firmly situate the present ring within the established corpus of early medieval Byzantine devotional jewellery.
- Weight: 6.45g
- Ring size: UK I 1/2; US 4.5r
- Condition: Good condition despite its significant age; hairline crack to outside of band, clear nielloed imagery with expected surface wear consistent with age
An exceptional and scholarly example of Byzantine religious jewellery; wearable, historically important, and profoundly symbolic.
A rare and deeply evocative survivor from the early medieval Byzantine world, this high-karat gold ring dates to circa the 8th–10th century and is engraved with a sacred figural image of the Theotokos (Mother of God) holding the Christ Child. Rings of this type functioned not merely as personal adornment, but as miniature devotional icons, worn close to the body for protection, faith, and status.
The ring is crafted in solid high-karat gold (approx 21K). The hoop broadens at the shoulders and is decorated with circular motifs, a common architectural treatment in Byzantine metalwork that visually frames and elevates the central bezel. The circular bezel measures approximately 9mm in diameter and bears a representation of the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child; both engraved figures are filled with niello against the gold ground.
Niello is a decorative technique involving a black metallic alloy composed primarily of silver, copper, lead, and sulphur. The powdered alloy is fused into engraved recesses of the metal surface through heating, then polished flush to create a striking black or dark grey contrast. While niello was widely used on silver throughout Antiquity, its application to gold was particularly favoured in Byzantine jewellery.
A closely related example is on loan to the Metropolitan Museum of Art (accession L.2015.72.49). Numerous comparable rings with nielloed religious imagery are preserved in the renowned Byzantine collection of the Dumbarton Oaks museum, including accession numbers BZ.1974.23, BZ.1968.8, BZ.1958.37, BZ.1969.77, BZ.1937.27, and BZ.1953.12.7. These parallels firmly situate the present ring within the established corpus of early medieval Byzantine devotional jewellery.
- Weight: 6.45g
- Ring size: UK I 1/2; US 4.5r
- Condition: Good condition despite its significant age; hairline crack to outside of band, clear nielloed imagery with expected surface wear consistent with age
An exceptional and scholarly example of Byzantine religious jewellery; wearable, historically important, and profoundly symbolic.
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