22K Gold Ring w/ Roman Nicolo Intaglio of Fortuna
Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 2nd century CE. A beautiful intaglio of an ovoid form, hand-carved from delicate blue-and-white nicolo stone and set inside the bezel of a modern 22K gold ring. The top of the intaglio bears an incised depiction of Fortuna (Greek Tyche), the goddess of fortune and the personification of luck. She dons a draped chiton that flows from her shoulders as well as her signature modius atop her head, holds a sheath of wheat in one hand, and grasps the horn of plenty in her other hand. The gold ring has a circular shank and a thick body atop which the bezel is situated. Size (intaglio): 0.4" L x 0.375" W (1 cm x 1 cm); (ring): 0.75" W x 1" H (1.9 cm x 2.5 cm); quality of gold: 22K; total weight: 7.7 grams; US ring size 6.
Fortuna was one of the most beloved deities worshipped in a domestic context, and she is often depicted - as she is here - with the modius, a sign of her wealth that is said to bring about increases in personal prosperity and luck. Wealthy Roman citizens would have worn a ring like this example when participating in games of chance, in heated negotiations, or in romantic encounters.
Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-Khan Family collection, New Jersey, USA, acquired in 1997
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.
We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#142702
Condition Report: Wearable as shown. Nicolo stone intaglio is ancient, and gold ring is modern. Very light abrasions to stone intaglio, otherwise intact and very good. Iconography still visible on intaglio.
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Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 2nd century CE. A beautiful intaglio of an ovoid form, hand-carved from delicate blue-and-white nicolo stone and set inside the bezel of a modern 22K gold ring. The top of the intaglio bears an incised depiction of Fortuna (Greek Tyche), the goddess of fortune and the personification of luck. She dons a draped chiton that flows from her shoulders as well as her signature modius atop her head, holds a sheath of wheat in one hand, and grasps the horn of plenty in her other hand. The gold ring has a circular shank and a thick body atop which the bezel is situated. Size (intaglio): 0.4" L x 0.375" W (1 cm x 1 cm); (ring): 0.75" W x 1" H (1.9 cm x 2.5 cm); quality of gold: 22K; total weight: 7.7 grams; US ring size 6.
Fortuna was one of the most beloved deities worshipped in a domestic context, and she is often depicted - as she is here - with the modius, a sign of her wealth that is said to bring about increases in personal prosperity and luck. Wealthy Roman citizens would have worn a ring like this example when participating in games of chance, in heated negotiations, or in romantic encounters.
Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-Khan Family collection, New Jersey, USA, acquired in 1997
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.
We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#142702
Condition Report: Wearable as shown. Nicolo stone intaglio is ancient, and gold ring is modern. Very light abrasions to stone intaglio, otherwise intact and very good. Iconography still visible on intaglio.
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