LATE ROMAN GOLD AND GLASS RING - EX CHRISTIES

Ca. 200-400 AD. Late Roman. A beautiful gold ring with a circular band made of coiled beaded wires, flared shoulders, and a round bezel with blue glass inlay encircled by a coiled crown setting. As in many ancient societies, jewellery was an important social marker used to demonstrate wealth. As a result of the expansion of the Roman Empire, Roman jewellery became more and more elaborate in its designs and materials used, such as precious and semi-precious gemstones. Roman jewellery often reflected the culture the Romans came into contact with, and can be viewed as a testament to the prosperity and power of the Roman Empire. The most popular type of Roman jewellery were rings, as Romans of Imperial times enjoyed to wear large rings, extravagantly decorated with cameos or engraved precious stones. From the Roman Republic onwards, it became customary for all the senators, chief magistrates, and the equites to wear gold rings, known in Latin as 'annuli aurei', as a way to distinguish themselves from the mass of the people. Excellent condition; the item has undergone X-ray fluorescence analysis to confirm the metallurgical content suggesting its ancient origin and lack of modern trace elements. It also comes with a gemological and historical report by an independent specialist Anna Rogers. To find out more about Roman rings and jewellery production in general, see Higgins, R. (1980). Greek and Roman jewellery. London: Methuen.Size: D: 17.35mm / US: 7 / UK: O; 4.2g. Provenance: From the collection of a gentleman based in London; formerly in a private collection (Eastern Europe) acquired in1975; Published: Christie's, London, 14 April 2011, lot 361.