Description:

**First Time At Auction**

Roman, late Imperial Period, ca. 3rd to 4th century CE. A lovely, sizable banded agate stone carved into a prominent conical shape traditional of ancient Rome and set into an ornate, modern ring of over 22 karat gold. The modern ring features elaborate openwork of swirls that meet under the bezel and 4 strands of incised gold wire that join at the back of the band. The richness of the gold alloy gives it a warm glow in any light. Fascinatingly, scholars believe that jewelry made with gemstones was made at small workshops in each town throughout the Roman Empire - for example, a find of gems at a house in Pompeii may be evidence for a local gem engraver's workshop. Size of ring exterior: 1.1" L x 0.9" W (2.8 cm x 2.3 cm); of agate: 0.6" L x 0.4" W (1.5 cm x 1 cm); of band at thickest: 0.8" W (2 cm); US ring size: 6; gold quality: 93.23 to 94.69% (equivalent to over 22 karat); total weight: 14.7 grams

A similarly cut banded agate from Rome can be found at the Metropolitan Museum of Art under accession number 74.51.4264.

Provenance: ex-East Coast collection, New York Gallery, New York City, New York, USA, acquired before 2010

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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#178057

  • Condition: Wearable as shown and constructed in modern times. Agate stone is ancient; gold ring setting is modern. Very slight bending to form on the bezel. Stone has some light scratching and weathering to surface. Overall very good condition.

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April 6, 2023 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000