SASANIAN AGATE INTAGLIO OF A LION IN OPENWORK GOLD RING

Ca. AD 400 - 600. A red agate intaglio engraved with a lion advancing to the right, its head lowered and tail arched over its back. The stone is set in a possibly later gold ring within an angular-sided mount, framed above and below by openwork scrolls centred on granules and joined to a slender rounded hoop. Size: D:16.92mm / US: 6 1/2 / UK: M 1/2; Weight: 1.3g Provenance: From a private UK collection, M.A.; earlier purchased on the London art market before 2000.