Description:

Roman, Imperial period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE; Europe, ca. 20th century CE. A gorgeous green calcite intaglio of an abstract design mounted in a modern ring of over 20 karat gold. Boasting translucent hues of mint green and pistachio, the ovoid stone is incised with an intriguing image that resembles an insect, a gryllus, and the head of Hermes (Greek Mercury) in profile. Light the stone under a blacklight to reveal a stunning ,violet-colored glow! Size of intaglio: 0.6" L x 0.4" W (1.5 cm x 1 cm); of ring: 1" L x 0.8" W x 0.8" H (2.5 cm x 2 cm x 2 cm); US ring size: 8; gold quality: 84% (over 20 karats); weight: 7.6 grams

Mercury was one of the major Classical deities, the patron god of financial success and commerce, as well as eloquence and poetry. He was a trickster god, and he also acted as a psychopomp, leading souls to the underworld. Ovid wrote that Mercury carried Morpheus's dreams from the valley of Somnus to sleeping humans. For these reasons, he came to be seen as the "keeper of boundaries," forming a bridge between the upper and lower worlds. He also fulfilled that role by acting as a messenger for the other gods. According to Caesar, he was the most popular god in Britain and Gaul, where he was syncretized with the Germanic god Wotan and considered to be the inventor of all arts.

he term "gryllus" is often applied to intaglios with fantastic combinations of human heads and animal parts. The term is actually derived from a remark made by Pliny about a painter, Antiphilos, who "painted a figure in an absurd costume known by the joking name of Gryllus" (i.e. a cricket). The interpretation of combination gems is not always clear but there is no doubt that they were considered to have apotropaic or prophylactic properties.

Provenance: private London, United Kingdom collection; ex-private Oxfordshire, UK collection from the 1980s

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.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

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SHIPPING EXCEPTIONS: Due to customs clearance issues, we are unable to ship to Germany, Switzerland and Australia. If you live in Germany, Switzerland or Australia, you will need to provide an alternate shipping destination, or we will not be able to complete your purchase. In addition, please note that we are unable to ship ancient items back to the original country of origin (Egyptian to Egypt, Greek to Greece, etc.)

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#190636

  • Condition: Roman intaglio set in modern gold ring to be wearable. Intaglio has chip to upper left with natural striations to stone. Nice remaining detail. Double refraction of calcite crystals create a slight iridescent effect.

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American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

SHIPPING LOGISTICS: As a courtesy to our clients worldwide, Artemis Gallery is happy to handle shipping for most lots sold, taking the hassle (and high cost!) out of having to arrange shipping on your own. Shipping costs will be added to your invoice at auction's end based on information given when you registered to bid - we strive to offer the most economical shipping costs to ensure safe transit. Our shippers of choice are DHL for International shipments and UPS for domestic shipments, but we are able to ship via other carriers at the buyer's expense as deemed necessary or by request.

For shipments of oversize items, Artemis Gallery will assist the buyer in working with a third-party shipping provider. For shipments outside of the USA, customs and duties may apply upon entry into said country, and this fee, if any, is the buyer's responsibility. If you have questions about this, please inquire BEFORE bidding.

Items will be shipped only upon receipt of payment in full and will be insured for their full value - no exceptions.

December 13, 2024 8:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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$300 $999 $50
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$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
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