Ancient Roman Victoria Intaglio
This piece has found a new home
We source pieces like this from auctions and private collections across Europe. Tell us what you are looking for and we will let you know when something similar arrives.
Ask about a similar piece
Drop A Hint
-
A scarce ancient Roman intaglio dating from the 1st to 2nd century AD, depicting Victoria, the Roman Goddess of Victory (also known as Nike in Greek mythology). The cabochon gemstone is a chromium chalcedony, mottled green in colour. It was known in the ancient world as a ‘plasma’ stone and was widely used in jewellery and seals throughout the Roman Empire. However the mineral disappeared from use in the ancient world towards the end of the 2nd century AD when the known deposits were mined out.
The intricate ancient engraving depicts a winged Victoria, draped and facing left, holding a palm branch in her right hand and a laurel leaf in her left. The green gem is translucent and contains small dotted black natural inclusions. The gemstone’s viridian green tones were linked to nature, growth, and prosperity, reflecting the Romans' appreciation for abundance and fertility.
Victoria played a major part of Roman society, with many temples erected in her honour including one on the Palatine Hill which would house the spoils of war from Roman victories. She was, to the Romans, a symbol of victory over death, ultimately determining who would be successful during war. The high number of artistic and architectural dedications to her bear witness to the popularity of the goddess’ cult: Victoria widely appears on Roman coins, jewellery, architecture, and other works of art.
The ancient intaglio is set in a later high-karat gold mount, probably dating from the 18th or early 19th centuries but crafted in keeping with ancient ring types. The bezel features a fine beaded rim, which leads to chased and arrowed shoulders. While undoubtedly being a status symbol in Roman society, wearing these gems served a more serious purpose as well; they were thought to to have apotropaic or prophylactic properties. Various similar examples of intaglios reside in notable collections and museums. See final photos for similar items in the British Museum (1923,0401.208, 1872,0604.175, 1987,0212.219, 1987,0212.221) and the Metropolitan Museum (81.6.100).
UK size J 1/2, US size 5
The ring weighs 6 grams and the intaglio measures 10mm x 9mm. The solid gold ring is unmarked but tests as high karat gold (21K).
The art of engraving gemstones has been admired since the early days of the Roman empire. However it was revived in Europe during the Renaissance, and again in the 18th and 19th centuries. Cameos and intaglios were prized and collected, sometimes as symbols of power and mounted in jewelled settings, sometimes as small objects for private devotion or enjoyment
A scarce ancient Roman intaglio dating from the 1st to 2nd century AD, depicting Victoria, the Roman Goddess of Victory (also known as Nike in Greek mythology). The cabochon gemstone is a chromium chalcedony, mottled green in colour. It was known in the ancient world as a ‘plasma’ stone and was widely used in jewellery and seals throughout the Roman Empire. However the mineral disappeared from use in the ancient world towards the end of the 2nd century AD when the known deposits were mined out.
The intricate ancient engraving depicts a winged Victoria, draped and facing left, holding a palm branch in her right hand and a laurel leaf in her left. The green gem is translucent and contains small dotted black natural inclusions. The gemstone’s viridian green tones were linked to nature, growth, and prosperity, reflecting the Romans' appreciation for abundance and fertility.
Victoria played a major part of Roman society, with many temples erected in her honour including one on the Palatine Hill which would house the spoils of war from Roman victories. She was, to the Romans, a symbol of victory over death, ultimately determining who would be successful during war. The high number of artistic and architectural dedications to her bear witness to the popularity of the goddess’ cult: Victoria widely appears on Roman coins, jewellery, architecture, and other works of art.
The ancient intaglio is set in a later high-karat gold mount, probably dating from the 18th or early 19th centuries but crafted in keeping with ancient ring types. The bezel features a fine beaded rim, which leads to chased and arrowed shoulders. While undoubtedly being a status symbol in Roman society, wearing these gems served a more serious purpose as well; they were thought to to have apotropaic or prophylactic properties. Various similar examples of intaglios reside in notable collections and museums. See final photos for similar items in the British Museum (1923,0401.208, 1872,0604.175, 1987,0212.219, 1987,0212.221) and the Metropolitan Museum (81.6.100).
UK size J 1/2, US size 5
The ring weighs 6 grams and the intaglio measures 10mm x 9mm. The solid gold ring is unmarked but tests as high karat gold (21K).
The art of engraving gemstones has been admired since the early days of the Roman empire. However it was revived in Europe during the Renaissance, and again in the 18th and 19th centuries. Cameos and intaglios were prized and collected, sometimes as symbols of power and mounted in jewelled settings, sometimes as small objects for private devotion or enjoyment
我们的承诺
我们始终保证所售每一件作品均为真品
所有订单均享 30 天无理由退货
所有商品均以礼盒包装并精心包好，全球免费保险寄送
我们以极致的用心检验、描述并拍摄每一件珠宝
