Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. A stunning Roman ring - the shank comprised of 98% gold (equivalent to23K+ gold) and the bezel comprised of 94% gold (equivalent to 20K+) - with an oval carnelian intaglio depicting a profile bust of Helios wearing his spiked headdress and facing his right. The Roman god Sol (Greek Helios) was believed to ride a golden chariot that carried the sun across the skies every day from East to West. In addition to appearing on beautiful painted vases riding his golden chariot in the background of imagery narrating the Hercules (Herakles) story, gracing the faces of coins of Rhodes - his patron city, as well as the east pediment of the Parthenon where he emerges from the ocean in his chariot, Helios is perhaps most famously the subject of the Colossus of Rhodes, a monumental bronze statue regarded as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Total weight: 10.9 grams. US ring size 9. Size: intaglio .625" L x .5" W (1.6 cm x 1.3 cm); 1.125" L x 1.125" W (2.9 cm x 2.9 cm); opening .75" L x 1" W (1.9 cm x 2.5 cm)
Provenance: ex-private Johnson collection, Houston, Texas, USA, acquired before 2013 via family descent
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#153367
Condition
A few chips to the intaglio as shown, but the imagery is still strong with wonderful details. Slight indentations to the bezel and minor scuffs to the bezel and shank. Gold has developed a lovely warm patina.