Roman Silver Seal Ring | Bearded Serapis Modius, Red Jasper
Roman, Imperial period, ca. 100–300 CE. A finger ring of high-purity silver, tested at 98 percent, set with an oval red jasper intaglio of the bearded head of Serapis. The god faces right, with a full beard and thick curls, and wears the kalathos or modius, the grain measure that marks him as a giver of abundance and lord of the underworld. The hoop widens at the shoulders into a heavy, rounded bezel, with the stone set flush, as is typical of Roman signet rings. Red jasper was favored by Roman gem cutters because it takes a crisp cut, making it well suited to seals pressed into wax or clay. The ring likely served both as a personal seal and as a sign of devotion to one of the most widely worshipped gods of the Imperial world. Size: 0.5" W x 0.55" Diam (1.3 cm W x 1.4 cm Diam); intaglio stone: 0.4" L x 0.3" W (1.0 cm L x 0.8 cm W); US ring size: 5.5; silver quality: 98%; weight: 7.2 grams.
Serapis was a deity built on purpose. His cult was likely promoted under Ptolemy I Soter (r. 306 to 283/282 BCE) as a figure who could unite the Greek and Egyptian subjects of the new Ptolemaic kingdom. His name and nature came from Osiris-Apis, the deified Apis bull of Memphis. His appearance was entirely Hellenic, with the mature, bearded majesty of Zeus and the chthonic dignity of Hades. In time he also took on the healing powers of Asklepios and something of the fertility of Dionysos.
His great sanctuary, the Serapeum at Alexandria, made him the patron god of the Ptolemaic capital. Under Roman rule his worship spread across the Mediterranean, often alongside that of Isis. By the 2nd and early 3rd centuries CE he had powerful supporters, Septimius Severus most notably. In those same centuries his bust became one of the most frequently cut subjects in Roman glyptic. The modius on his head was a reminder that the grain fleets of Egypt fed Rome, and it made the image a fitting emblem of prosperity for the person wearing it.
Provenance: private New Jersey, USA collection, acquired by family descent; originally acquired in the 1980s
SHIPPING: We coordinate worldwide shipping in-house through specialist international forwarders experienced with fine art and antiquities customs manifests. International buyers must confirm, prior to bidding, that their country's customs authority will accept the item. All duties, taxes, clearance fees, and any costs arising from customs delays, seizures, re-export, returns, or loss in transit are the buyer's sole responsibility. Artemis assumes no liability for items refused entry, detained, or lost after export. We cannot ship ancient items to their country of origin (Egyptian to Egypt, Greek to Greece, etc.).For those not using LiveAuctioneers' Live Ship program, Artemis Fine Arts offers expert in-house packing and worldwide shipping. With over 20 years of experience, our team provides careful, reliable, and affordable service. For a quick quote on this lot, please contact support@artemisfinearts.com prior to the auction, or call 720-890-7700.
PAYMENT EXCEPTION: For clients not previously established with Artemis, payment for all gold, precious metal, and gemstone lots must be made by bank wire transfer or certified bank check/money order, without exception.
Item #205477
Condition
Small nick to ring setting with some weathering and surface wear to silver, but, otherwise, intact, wearable, and very nice with good remaining detail on the intaglio.
Roman, Imperial period, ca. 100–300 CE. A finger ring of high-purity silver, tested at 98 percent, set with an oval red jasper intaglio of the bearded head of Serapis. The god faces right, with a full beard and thick curls, and wears the kalathos or modius, the grain measure that marks him as a giver of abundance and lord of the underworld. The hoop widens at the shoulders into a heavy, rounded bezel, with the stone set flush, as is typical of Roman signet rings. Red jasper was favored by Roman gem cutters because it takes a crisp cut, making it well suited to seals pressed into wax or clay. The ring likely served both as a personal seal and as a sign of devotion to one of the most widely worshipped gods of the Imperial world. Size: 0.5" W x 0.55" Diam (1.3 cm W x 1.4 cm Diam); intaglio stone: 0.4" L x 0.3" W (1.0 cm L x 0.8 cm W); US ring size: 5.5; silver quality: 98%; weight: 7.2 grams.
Serapis was a deity built on purpose. His cult was likely promoted under Ptolemy I Soter (r. 306 to 283/282 BCE) as a figure who could unite the Greek and Egyptian subjects of the new Ptolemaic kingdom. His name and nature came from Osiris-Apis, the deified Apis bull of Memphis. His appearance was entirely Hellenic, with the mature, bearded majesty of Zeus and the chthonic dignity of Hades. In time he also took on the healing powers of Asklepios and something of the fertility of Dionysos.
His great sanctuary, the Serapeum at Alexandria, made him the patron god of the Ptolemaic capital. Under Roman rule his worship spread across the Mediterranean, often alongside that of Isis. By the 2nd and early 3rd centuries CE he had powerful supporters, Septimius Severus most notably. In those same centuries his bust became one of the most frequently cut subjects in Roman glyptic. The modius on his head was a reminder that the grain fleets of Egypt fed Rome, and it made the image a fitting emblem of prosperity for the person wearing it.
Provenance: private New Jersey, USA collection, acquired by family descent; originally acquired in the 1980s
SHIPPING: We coordinate worldwide shipping in-house through specialist international forwarders experienced with fine art and antiquities customs manifests. International buyers must confirm, prior to bidding, that their country's customs authority will accept the item. All duties, taxes, clearance fees, and any costs arising from customs delays, seizures, re-export, returns, or loss in transit are the buyer's sole responsibility. Artemis assumes no liability for items refused entry, detained, or lost after export. We cannot ship ancient items to their country of origin (Egyptian to Egypt, Greek to Greece, etc.).For those not using LiveAuctioneers' Live Ship program, Artemis Fine Arts offers expert in-house packing and worldwide shipping. With over 20 years of experience, our team provides careful, reliable, and affordable service. For a quick quote on this lot, please contact support@artemisfinearts.com prior to the auction, or call 720-890-7700.
PAYMENT EXCEPTION: For clients not previously established with Artemis, payment for all gold, precious metal, and gemstone lots must be made by bank wire transfer or certified bank check/money order, without exception.
Item #205477
Condition
Small nick to ring setting with some weathering and surface wear to silver, but, otherwise, intact, wearable, and very nice with good remaining detail on the intaglio.
