Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 4th century CE. A gorgeous intaglio carved from a fragment of translucent quartz depicting a reclining woman reaching out towards an intimidating lion. The woman exhibits a backswept coiffure bound with a fillet and a relaxed pose with one outstretched arm, and the lion features a slender body, a lengthy neck, and a sinuous tail with a bushy tip. Above both figures is an inscribed signature that perhaps reads "KEPOREW." The intaglio is set within an ovoid bezel atop a 94.7% silver ring with a shank comprised of thin, braided strands bound near the upper termini. Size (ring): 0.7" W x 0.875" H (1.8 cm x 2.2 cm); (intaglio): 0.625" L x 0.45" W (1.6 cm x 1.1 cm); quality of silver: 94.7%; total weight: 4.6 grams; US ring size 6.
Provenance: private East Coast collection, New York, USA; ex-East Coast collection, New York Gallery, New York City, New York, USA, acquired before 2010
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#157746
Condition
Wearable as shown and constructed in modern times. Quartz intaglio is ancient, and silver ring is modern. Minor abrasions and softening to intaglio, otherwise intact and very good. Nice preservation to intaglio iconography.