EUR
CAD
AUD
GBP
MXN
HKD
CNY
MYR
SEK
SGD
CHF
THB18K+ Gold Ring w/ Roman Agate Intaglio of Dolphin
About Seller
686 S Taylor Ave, Ste 106
Louisville, CO 80027
United States
Selling antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art online since 1993, Artemis Gallery specializes in Classical Antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal / Oceanographic art. Our extensive inventory includes pottery, stone, metal, wood, glass and textil...Read more
Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Two ways to bid:
- Leave a max absentee bid and the platform will bid on your behalf up to your maximum bid during the live auction.
- Bid live during the auction and your bids will be submitted real-time to the auctioneer.
Bid Increments
| Price | Bid Increment |
|---|---|
| $0 | $25 |
| $300 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 | $20,000 |
About Auction
LiveJun 15, 2023
Antiquities, ethnographic, native american and fine art from cultures encompassing the globe. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
View Full Catalog (260)
- Lot Description
Roman, Imperial period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. A beautiful agate intaglio of a dolphin set into a modern gold ring of over 18 karats to be wearable. Presenting natural banded hues of white and apricot, the semi-translucent intaglio displays the sinuous body of the sea creature in profile swimming left with a slender snout, an annular eye, a crested dorsal fin, prominent flippers, and a bifurcated tail. The modern ring is comprised of a double band and an openwork, knot-like shoulder that holds the raised, ovoid bezel. The Romans were largely a maritime empire, and the iconography of the sea included dolphins. Romans believed these animals carried souls to the Fortunate Isles, perhaps because they could pass through the air-breathing terrestrial world and into the watery depths that claimed so many Roman sailors' lives. Size of ring: 1" L x 0.9" W (2.5 cm x 2.3 cm); of intaglio: 0.4" L x 0.3" W (1 cm x 0.8 cm); US ring size: 10; gold quality: 76.83% (equivalent to over 18 karats); weight: 5.1 grams
The dolphin was a strong motif in Classical culture as a whole; in the Homeric Hymn to Dionysus (Bacchus to the Romans) we learn that dolphins were once humans, created when sailors kidnapped Dionysus and he made them magically leap into the sea and transform into the grinning mammals. The dolphin was also considered the swiftest of all living beings and is associated with godliness and royalty because of its place as king of the sea.
Provenance: private Danvers, Massachusetts, USA collection, acquired by descent; ex-Bernheimer’s Antique Arts, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, acquired prior to 1992
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 and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#179191Condition
Ancient intaglio set in a modern gold ring to be wearable. Small nick below dolphin and light scratch to area on left, but imagery is still clear. Ring and intaglio are both intact and in very good condition. Accompanied by modern plastic ring box with velvet ring pad.
- Shipping Info
-
All shipping is handled in-house for your convenience. Your invoice from Artemis Gallery will include shipping calculation instructions. If in doubt, please inquire BEFORE bidding for estimated shipping costs for individual items.
-
- Buyer's Premium
