An 18/14k gold ring with a late Hellenistic cameo. - image-1
An 18/14k gold ring with a late Hellenistic cameo. - image-2
An 18/14k gold ring with a late Hellenistic cameo. - image-1An 18/14k gold ring with a late Hellenistic cameo. - image-2

Lot 1 Dα

An 18/14k gold ring with a late Hellenistic cameo.

Auction 1056 - overview Cologne
12.11.2015, 17:00 - Jewellery and Boxes
Estimate: 4.000 € - 6.000 €
Result: 5.456 € (incl. premium)
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An 18/14k gold ring with a late Hellenistic cameo.

An 18/14k gold cameo ring depicting a mask of comedy. The two-toned sardonyx cameo ca. 22 x 19 x 7.5 mm, on an angular U-shaped band. Minimal wear to the stone. Bezel: Ring size 50.5 cm. Weight 9.8 g.
1st C. B.C., the setting late 18th C.

The cameo depicts the "comic slave" stock character of ancient Greek comedy. The angular band and bombé-form frame indicate that the piece was not intended to be worn as jewellery but for private study in a daktyliotheque. This type of ring is found in several Neoclassical glyptic collections, including the intaglio collection of the Duc d'Orléans and the Hermitage in St. Petersburg.

Provenance

Private collection, Austria.