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THB6th C. Byzantine Gold Ring - Christ w/ Couple
Lot 42
About Seller
Artemis Fine Arts
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 Estimate:
$3,000 - $4,000
Starting Bid
$1,800
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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
Live
By Artemis Fine Arts
Mar 20, 2025
Set Reminder
2025-03-20 10:00:00
2025-03-20 10:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : Exceptional Finds | Ancient, Ethno, Fine Art
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/exceptional-finds-ancient-ethno-fine-art-18151
Explore a world of classical antiquities and ethnographic masterpieces, with treasures from every corner of the globe. Discover Egyptian relics, Greek and Roman artifacts, Etruscan elegance, Near Eastern wonders, and Asian heritage. Marvel at Pre-Columbian marvels, Native American artistry, African tribal expressions, and Oceanic cultural gems. Spanish Colonial legacies, Russian craftsmanship, and a spectrum of fine and visual arts await, offering a captivating journey through history and artistry, connecting cultures across time. Artemis Fine Arts info@artemisgallery.com
Explore a world of classical antiquities and ethnographic masterpieces, with treasures from every corner of the globe. Discover Egyptian relics, Greek and Roman artifacts, Etruscan elegance, Near Eastern wonders, and Asian heritage. Marvel at Pre-Columbian marvels, Native American artistry, African tribal expressions, and Oceanic cultural gems. Spanish Colonial legacies, Russian craftsmanship, and a spectrum of fine and visual arts await, offering a captivating journey through history and artistry, connecting cultures across time. Artemis Fine Arts info@artemisgallery.com
View Full Catalog (58)
- Lot Description
Ancient Near East, Byzantine Empire, ca. late 6th to 7th century CE. A superb marriage ring formed from 88.89% - over 21 karats - gold and featuring a thick, tubular band and a circular bezel. The bezel is incised with the full figure of Christ joining the hands(dextrarum iunctio) of the groom, in a chlamys to the left, and the bride, who wears a crown at the right. Size of bezel: 0.6" W (1.5 cm); of ring: 1" W (2.5 cm); US ring size: 8.5; gold quality: 88.89% (over 21 karats); weight: 8.7 grams
Quite what role rings like this example played in the marriage ceremony is unclear. In the Roman period the right hands of the couple were joined in the ceremony known as dextrarum iunctio and although this ritual was adopted by Christians there is no evidence that rings were involved. Theophylact Simocatta, for instance, in his description of the marriage of the emperor Maurice (582-602) alludes to a priest 'who took the royal pair's hands, joined them to each other and blessed the emperor's marriage with salutations of prayer', but does not mention rings. Although betrothal rings (the annulus pronobus) were presented by the groom to the bride, it seems likely that the function of most Byzantine marriage rings was to commemorate the marriage after the fact. An unusual iconographic feature of this ring is that the heads of the married couple are shown in profile rather than straight on as is usually the case.
Cf. Dumbarton Oaks, BZ.1961.3.
Provenance: private London, UK collection, acquired in Vienna, Austria, before 2000
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.
SHIPPING EXCEPTIONS: Due to customs clearance issues, we are unable to ship to Germany, Switzerland and Australia. If you live in Germany, Switzerland or Australia, you will need to provide an alternate shipping destination, or we will not be able to complete your purchase. In addition, please note that we are unable to ship ancient items back to the original country of origin (Egyptian to Egypt, Greek to Greece, etc.)
PAYMENT EXCEPTION: Unless a known customer of Artemis, payment for all gold / precious metal / gem lots must be made via Bank Wire Transfer or Certified Bank Check/Money Order, no exceptions."#189686Some light surface wear as shown, but otherwise, intact, excellent, and wearable. Impressive remaining detail.Condition
- Shipping Info
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