Ancient Near East / Central Asia, Sassanian (Sasanian / Sasanid), middle Sassanian Empire, ca. 400 to 500 CE. A beautiful 22K+ gold ring with a large raised bezel housing a square Sassanian eye agate intaglio incised with a buck oriented to the left with his head boasting a massive rack facing the opposite direction - flanked by calligraphic flourishes. The impressive animal has four slender legs beneath a powerful body, a short stubby tail, and a handsome visage. The agate stone itself is dark chocolate brown to black on top with white and caramel brown inclusions along the sides. The intaglio is ancient, and the setting which presents a handsome shank, bezel, and granules joining bezel to shank is likely late 19th to early 20th century enabling it to be worn for any occasion! Size: intaglio measures .625" L x .625" W (1.6 cm x 1.6 cm); bezel is .5" H (1.3 cm); opening measures .75" in diameter (1.9 cm); US ring size: 7.75. Gold quality: 85%, equivalent to 22K+.
The Sasanian Empire (also called Sassanid, Sasanid, or Sassanian) is generally regarded as the highlight of ancient Iranian civilization and was the final pre-Islamic empire of Persia. It was established by Ardeshir I, the son of Papak and descendant of Sasan, in 224 CE. This empire came to an end in 651 CE. The Sasanians thought of themselves as the rightful successors to the Achaemenid Persians.
Provenance: private southern California, USA collection, acquired before 2000
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#145344
Condition
Slight surface wear to the gold setting and granules missing from one side, but otherwise excellent. Agate intaglio is superb with well-preserved incised imagery.