Description:

Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 2nd century CE; Western Europe, England, Neoclassical period, ca. 19th century CE. A beautiful carnelian intaglio of a janiform gryllus in the form of 2 opposite-facing heads of a bearded man and an elephant set in a Beckford ring mount of 73.01% gold. The 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 stunning gem is set in an octagonal bezel with a groove on its outer edges and is believed to have been mounted for the writer and antiquary William Beckford (English, 1760-1844). Size (intaglio): 0.32" L x 0.39" W x 0.08" H (0.8 cm x 1 cm x 0.2 cm); (ring setting): 0.44" L x 0.77" W x 0.80" H (1.1 cm x 2 cm x 2 cm); gold quality: 73.01% (equivalent to 15K+); weight: 1.9 grams; US ring size: 6.5

Provenance: ex-Dr. Corinne Bronfman estate, Washington D.C., USA, acquired via descent; ex-Marjorie Bronfman collection, Montreal, Canada, acquired March 31,1966; ex-Beckford collection, United Kingdom

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#186644

  • Condition: Wearable as shown and constructed in modern times. Carnelian intaglio is ancient; ring setting is Neoclassical. Minor abrasions and softening to finer details of carnelian intaglio, otherwise intact and excellent. Great colors and presentation.

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August 18, 2024 11:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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