Lot 126
**First Time At Auction**
Roman, Imperial period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. A stunning, nearly-24 karat gold ring boasting a carnelian intaglio of nude Cupid (Greek Eros), the Roman god of love, sex, and desire. Standing contrapposto, the cherubic deity leans on a baluster and looks upward, holding one arm to back, beneath his magnificent, plumed wings, and grasping a standard in his other hand. The ovoid gem is held in place with a piecrust bezel leading to a sloped shoulder and tapering band. Note how the warm shimmer of the gold intensifies the rich, vermillion hue of the carnelian. An eye-catching and wearable piece of ancient history that serves as a stunning testament to the enduring nature of love and romance - or in the eternal words of Virgil "Omnia vincit Amor" - and perhaps the perfect gift for whomever you desire to be struck by one of Cupid's arrows! Size of intaglio: 0.5" L x 0.4" W (1.3 cm x 1 cm); of ring: 0.8" L x 0.9" W (2 cm x 2.3 cm); US ring size: 4; gold quality: 97.15% (equivalent to over 23 karats); weight: 2.6 grams
Cupid was the mischievous yet endearing god of love, a minion, constant companion, and according to some classical writers, a son of the goddess Venus (Aphrodite). Although Eros is generally portrayed as a slender winged youth in Classical Greek art, during the Hellenistic period, he was increasingly portrayed as a chubby boy. During this time, his iconography acquired the bow and arrow that represent his source of power: a person, or even a deity, who is shot by Cupid's arrow is filled with uncontrollable desire.
Provenance: East Coast collection, New York Gallery, New York City, New York, USA, acquired prior to 2010
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#183953
- Condition: Some minor indentations to band and setting, as well as a few light abrasions to gold, as expected with age. Some small areas of loss to piecrust bezel, but otherwise mostly intact, in very good condition, and wearable. Intaglio is in excellent condition with nicely preserved detail.
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