Scarce Ancient Roman Carnelian Intaglio of NIKE and Warriors in 21k Gold Signet

A scarce ancient Roman intaglio dating from the 1st to 2nd century AD, depicting Victoria, the Roman Goddess of Victory (also known as Nike in Greek mythology). The cabochon gemstone is a chromium chalcedony, mottled green in colour. It was known in the ancient world as a ‘plasma’ stone and was widely used in jewellery and seals throughout the Roman Empire. However the mineral disappeared from use in the ancient world towards the end of the 2nd century AD when the known deposits were mined out. The intricate ancient engraving depicts a winged Victoria, draped and facing left, holding a palm branch in her right hand and a laurel leaf in her left. The green gem is translucent and contains small dotted black natural inclusions. The gemstone’s viridian green tones were linked to nature, growth, and prosperity, reflecting the Romans' appreciation for abundance and fertility. Victoria played a major part of Roman society, with many temples erected in her honour including one on the Palatine Hill which would house the spoils of war from Roman victories. She was, to the Romans, a symbol of victory over death, ultimately determining who would be successful during war. The high number of artistic and architectural dedications to her bear witness to the popularity of the goddess’ cult: Victoria widely appears on Roman coins...

A superb ancient Roman nicolo intaglio set in a late 18th century gold signet ring. Nicolo intaglios are a particular type of intaglio ma...

An ancient Romano-British carved jasper intaglio dating from the 2nd to 3rd century AD, set in a later gold mount dating from the late 18th century. The intaglio is intricately carve...

A large antique English Georgian era gentleman’s gold signet ring, circa 1830. In the centre there is a flat-cut and bezel-set octagonal carneli...

This rare Egyptian carved carnelian frog amulet dates to the Eighteenth Dynasty of the New Kingdom, circa 1300 BC. Frog amulets, depicting the goddess Heket, were commonly worn by both the living as a fertility charm and the dead to provide rejuvenation and a long afterlife. The ancient amulet is pierced horizontally and set into a later gold swivel mount, probably dating from the late 19th century. The design of the gold mount inspired by rings worn by the ancient Egyptians and Etruscans with its swivel bezel and coiled wire on the shoulders. The immense number of offspring made the frog an important symbol of fertility in ancient Egypt, and carved frog amulets were worn by women hoping for an easy delivery. This is exemplified with the goddess and protector of birth, Keket, who was depicted as a frog. After death, frog amulets would be placed within the wrappings of mummies, both men and women, in hope of a successful rebirth in the afterlife. The association between this amphibian and rebirth may have been induced by the fact that every year, millions of frogs spontaneously appeared out of the river mud and filled the fields after the annual inundation of the Nile. This caused the Egyptians to believe that they spontaneously generated themselves out of the river mud. The influence of frogs in Ancient Egypt can be seen in the language, the hieroglyphic sign for "one hundred thousand" was a tadpole, and one of the Egyptian terms denoting "frogs" is whm-anx, meaning literally "they who repeat life." Similar examples of ancient Egyptian carved...

A superb and rare ancient Indus Valley etched carnelian bead ring. The conical shaped carnelian gemstone in the centre dates from the middle of the third millennium BC. Deep orange in colour with white patterned etchings, these beads originate from the Indus Valley civilisation (parts of modern day Pakistan and India). These carnelian beads were alkaline-bleached to develop the geometric white patterns visible on the exterior. The technique was first developed by the Harappans of the Indus Valley civilisation, and vast quantities have been found in archaeological sites all across the Indus Valley. The conical stone has been set in a later high-karat gold ring mount, the hoop is hollow and of circular cross section which widens towards the bezel. This design and shape is typical of ancient gold rings...

A fine antique intaglio ring. Likely converted from an antique button or pin. In 14k gold With a carved carnelian cabochon depicting an unidentified Roman hero. Marked 14k to the...

We are proud to show this circular hoop of 22 Kt gold, with coiling around the shoulders, sets an oval shaped intaglio"dextrarum lunctio" on the carnelian. This translates to clasped...

Circa 1910 14k Yellow Gold Intaglio Signet Ring, the top measures 9/16 X 9/16 inch and is set with a dark Red Ancient Greek - Roman style Intaglio. Hand chased design work on the si...

A Georgian carnelian intaglio ring, the oval cornelian measuring 21 x 18mm, seal-engraved with a classic male head, bearded and in profile, in a yellow gold setting with an open back...

Exceptionally rare and fashioned in the 2nd or 3rd century CE, the carved carnelian gemstone at the center of this ring hails from the Roman Empire. Displaying a rich red color and carved with the image of two Roman deities with a child, the creation exudes the glory of late antiquity. Each taking a classical contrapposto stance, the leftmost god appears crowned with laurels and grasping a staff, while the other appears nude. At their feet, an infant stretches his arms upward toward the divine figures. The crimson carnelian, more than a millennia-old, is set into a later 14K gold ring setting...

Ancient Roman Dionysus intaglio ring. Set with an oval carnelian intaglio finely engraved with standing figure of Dionysus holding a thrysus and drinking cup, in a closed back rubove...