Georgian 18th Century Signet Ring with Ancient Roman Nicolo Intaglio of Hercules

Rare Antique Late 18th Century Garnet Intaglio Signet Ring with Rose Cut Diamonds This fantastic signet ring dates to around 1780 and was made in Paris. A closed-back and bezel set ...

This rare heraldic silver intaglio signet ring dates from the late 17th century and originates from Western Europe. The flat, octagonal bezel is engraved with a noble family coat of arms depicting an eight pointed star. The silver ring is cast in one piece, the intaglio is framed within a chased octagonal border and the band displays flared and chamfered edges at the shoulders, all features typical of the period. After looking into heraldry archives, there are a few families in Western Europe which share this coat of arms, notably the Ambrogini family of Italy and the Counts of Waldeck, vassals of Luxembourg since the 14th century (see Ravensbury Antiques...

A superb, scarce Finnish antique 18K gold ring that was made in Helsinki in the year 1854. The oval carnelian coat of arms intaglio is set in a large intricate gold repoussé work mount featuring scrolled foliate motifs. Incredibly, thanks to a full set of Finnish hallmarks, as well as from the intaglio carving itself, we can identify who commissioned and wore this superb seal ring. The coat of arms engraved into the carnelian gemstone is that of the Klinckowström family, an old Prussian noble house whose members played prominent roles in the history of Prussia, Sweden, Finland and Austria. The family was granted nobility in Sweden in 1684 by King Charles XI, and then received the rank of baron in 1759 from King Adolf Frederick. The baronial branch was listed in the Finnish House of Nobility (Ritarihuone) from 1818 until the family line ended in Finland in 1883. This baronial element can also be seen in the engraved coat of arms from the specific type of coronet used, it is set with pearls and known as a ‘Friherrlig rangkrona’, the coronet for Baron. The hallmarks tell us that this ring was made in Helsinki in the year 1854. Accordingly, the ring must have been made for a Baron (male) of the Klinckowström family, present and active in Finland during the mid-19th century. After researching into the genealogial records, only one member of the family settled in Finland, which was Baron Otto Wilhelm Klinkowström (1778-1850), and this ring would have been commissioned by his son Baron Arthur Wilhelm Wilhelmsson Klinckowström, shortly after his father’s passing. The ring would have been made in used to seal deeds and important letters in wax regarding family affairs. Arthur had two sons. Emil and Alexander who carried on the baronial title until 1883, when the family line ended on the male side. Although the time period of this ring also matches up with his both his sons, according to heraldry records they both carried a slightly different coat of arms. Arthur, the owner of this ring enrolled in the House of Knights in Finland aged 17 and soon after received the Order of St. John of Jerusalem. He spent the remainder of his years in various senior military positions, such as Lieutenant Colonel of the Finnish Sharpshooter Battalion and Colonel of the Kremenchugska Hunter Regiment. He passed away in 1860, not long after his father, which may explain why this ring is in such excellent condition with minimal signs of usage. His father, Baron Otto Wilhelm Klinkowström (1778-1850) was a Swedish lieutenant general who later moved to Finland, where he immediately found favour with Czar Alexander I of Russia...

A gorgeous 18th century Italian hardstone cameo ring. This beautiful four layered sardonyx cameo is carved from a single piece of agate with immense skill to reveal the bust of the G...

An unusual ancient Roman gold ring dating to the late 4th century AD. The bezel is set with a much earlier object, a scarce Archaic Greek electrum coin. The electrum coins of the ancient kingdoms of Ionia and Lydia are considered as the first true coins ever struck. Dating to the end of the 7th century BC these lumpy coins started a monetary revolution in the ancient Greek world. This type of globular metal coin was made from an alloy of gold and silver known to the Greeks as elektron. Although ancient sources indicated that this alloy was a natural ore found in nugget form in many riverbeds in the region, recent studies have concluded that this was actually not the case, and that the electrum used in coinage was, in fact, man-made. It is not uncommon for earlier elements, particularly gems and coins, to be re-used in later jewellery. However, the present ring may be unique in that it incorporates a coin which was already over 900 years old at the time the ring was made. The coin was likely a chance find that was cherished for its age or amuletic value. The ring is set with square-shaped bezel which protrudes outwards with a raised circular collar, and the solid D-sectioned band tapers towards the back. According to Classical scholar Martin Henig’s classification of Roman ring types, this example is of Henig type XV design and is therefore dateable to the late 4th to early 5th century AD. A referenced example of this ring shape which also dates to the 4th century AD can be found in ‘Rings: The Alice and Louis Koch Collection - Vol I’ (item no. 441), see final photo for example. The very earliest electrum globule coins were non-pictorial on one side with simple square punch marks on the other. As the side that is displayed on the ring is just the punch marks, it is likely that the reverse is non-pictorial. These plain globular examples, along with the striated versions are the rarest electrum coins and are ascribed to the region of Ionia c. 650-600 BC. Nine similar plain electrum pieces were within the famous ‘Artemision Find’ at Ephesus in 1904. Due to the unlikelihood of these coins being found by chance and subsequently used in later rings by the Romans, I have only been able to find two other examples of this ring type that have sold at auction. Firstly, one set with an electrum hekte sold in Christie’s ‘Ancient Jewelry’ sale...

A fantastic French 19th century Neorenaissance silver intaglio ring, in the manner of Jules Wièse and Froment-Meurice, circa 1840. The milky blue ...

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...

A museum quality ancient Roman gold ring, circa 400 AD. This hollow ring is bezel-set with a garnet intaglio of Hippocamp – a fish-tailed horse that w...

Castellani® has selected this Ancient Roman Agate Intaglio for the "Cleopatra" Ring Setting. The intaglio dates to the 3rd to 7th Century. The intaglio is both black and white agate, which is a hard stone and very good for carving. The agate has two layers of color, black on the top and white at the bottom. The agate intaglio is solid and one piece. The carver was able to use these two color layers to give dimension and detail. The Column and Angel on the left wings are white and the balance is all black. The Carver knew the material he/she was carving and used this to create this very unique scene. The intaglio shows two angels standing on either side of a column/pillar looking at the bust of a man on top of the pillar. The angels are female and male. The bust on the pedestal is of a male. The intaglio is set below the frame. The frame flairs out to a subtle point on the sides and has a flat surface. The "Cleopatra" ring design was a style that Castellani created in the 1860's and was inspired by Ancient Roman rings...

Roman, circa 2nd – 1st centuries BC A museum quality, finely modeled, high carat (approximately 22.5K), hollow gold signet ring is set with an oval amethyst intaglio...

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...

An ancient amethyst intaglio representing three sacrifice tools: knife, jug and ladle I Century AD mounted on gold ring, the bezel is high carat and probably medieval,the shank is XI...