Roman, early Imperial period, Eastern Empire, ca. 1st century CE. A truly dazzling ring of nearly 24 karat gold featuring the amethyst intaglio of nude Venus (Greek Aphrodite), the Roman goddess of love and beauty, standing in contrapposto with one hand on her breast and the other over her sex - a pose known as the Venus Pudica, a stance that simultaneously shields and highlights her bareness. Her hair pulled up in a chignon, the goddess gracefully turns her head to her right, averting the gaze of the viewer. The translucent violet of the intaglio is beautifully complemented by the lustrous gold ring, which displays a rectangular face with a gold wire inlay forming an oval surrounding the piecrust bezel. Size of ring (exterior): 1.1" L x 1" W (2.8 cm x 2.5 cm); of ring (interior): : 0.7" L x 0.6" W (1.8 cm x 1.5 cm); of intaglio: 0.5" L x 0.4" W (1.3 cm x 1 cm); US ring size: 4.75; gold quality: 42.9% to 99% (equivalent to 10.296 to 23.76 karats); weight: 9.7 grams
Each corner of the face is adorned by clusters of granules arranged in a pyramidal form reminiscent of bunches of grapes - perhaps intended as a reference to the central amethyst, which in Roman times was believed to have been colored purple by Bacchus the god of wine and offered protection against drunkenness. Tapering opposite the intaglio, the tubular band is also embellished by additional clusters of granules.
Provenance: private Boynton Beach, Florida, USA collection; ex-K.L. collection, Bavaria, Germany, acquired between 1980 to 2005
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#178609
Condition
Some light nicks and scratches to the intaglio, though none affecting the central image, which is still very clear. Minor indentations to ring band and verso of face. Otherwise, ring and intaglio are intact, wearable, and in overall excellent condition. Light patina to gold and great preservation of imagery on intaglio.