ROMAN CARNELIAN INTAGLIO DEPICTING MERCURY IN GOLD RING

Ca. AD 1 - 200. A Roman gold finger ring with a broad, smoothly rounded hoop and raised circular bezel set with a polished spinel intaglio. The reddish-orange gemstone is finely engraved with a standing Mercury beside a caduceus and holding a money bag. The ring features a substantial gold setting framing the engraved stone. Size: D:14.27mm / US: 3 / UK: F 1/2; Weight: 3.5g Provenance: Private UK collection, acquired on the UK art market; previously in a Private London collection; acquired in France in the early 2000s; formerly in a Swiss private collection formed in the 1980s and 1990s. This item has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database and comes with a confirmation letter.