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HOME :
Intaglio Jewelry :
Roman Seal Rings : Roman Intaglio Depicting the Bust of an Emperor
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Roman Intaglio Depicting the Bust of an Emperor - FJ.6663
Origin: Mediterranean
Circa: 100
AD
to 300
AD
Medium: Carnelian-Gold
$4,800.00
Location: United States
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| Description |
This Ancient Seal Has Been Set in a Modern 18 Karat
Gold Ring
The art of glyptics, or carving images on colored
precious stones, is probably one of the oldest known to
humanity. Intaglios, gems with an incised design, were
made as early as the fourth and third millennia B.C. in
Mesopotamia and the Aegean Islands. They exhibit a
virtuosity of execution that suggests an old and stable
tradition rooted in the earliest centuries. The tools
required for carving gems were simple: a wheel with a
belt-drive and a set of drills. Abrasives were necessary
since the minerals used were too hard for a metal edge.
A special difficulty of engraving intaglios, aside from
their miniature size, was that the master had to work with
a mirror-image in mind.
The portrait of an Emperor has been carved into this
precious gemstone. Wearing a filet in his hair, the sign of
a ruler, and wearing a toga, this portrait is difficult to
identify for sure due to the idealization of his features.
Often, each successive ruler adopted the symbols of
power and prestige of the former so that these attributes
can only identify the type, in this case an emperor
portrait, and not the individual. This intaglio
demonstrates the absolute mastery of the Roman glyptic
craftsmen. The level of detail and clarity is stunning
considering the limited proportions of the polished
surface of the gemstone and the difficulty carving such
dense, hard material. Today set in a marvelous 18 Karat
gold ring, this gorgeous piece of jewelry invokes the
glories of Ancient Rome. Wearing this ring reveals a love
for the past and for the timeless beauty of the Classics.
- (FJ.6663)
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