Scarce Renaissance Italian Cameo Ring 17th Century of Emperor Hadrian 18K Gold

A very unusual antique gold ring set with a carved brown and white hardstone cameo depicting the theatrical comic mask of Silenus, the Greek mythological old rustic god of wine-making and drunkenness. The ring was made in the late 19th century and carries French control marks for 18K gold, whilst the cameo is probably Italian and made slightly earlier, circa 1800. Silenus was a companion to the wine god Dionysus, and suitably he was a notorious consumer of wine, usually drunk and supported by satyrs or carried by a donkey. Silenus was described as the oldest, wisest and most drunken of the followers of Dionysus, and was said to possess special knowledge and the power of prophecy when intoxicated. He presides over the other satyrs and is related to musical creativity, prophetic ecstasy, drunken joy and drunken dances. Silenus was usually depicted as a jovial old man, bald yet bearded, with a pot-belly, thick lips and snub-nose. The masks worn to play him in theatre really emphasised these features, as you can see with this cameo carving Theatre was a key part of ancient Greek culture. The theatrical masks worn by the actors, known as ‘prosopon’, served various purposes. They enabled individual actors to play multiple roles (or genders) in the same performance; the exaggerated expressions helped define the character being portrayed; they helped spectators in the back rows to tell the characters apart. This particular masked as mentioned before is a comedic Silenus, please see final photo for other examples of Silenus masks in museum collections. UK size N 1/2, US size 7 4.84g 18K gold French ‘tête...

A scarce and small ancient Roman gold Medusa cameo ring, circa 2nd to 3rd century AD. The carved layered onyx gemstone is white in colour and depicts the bust of Medusa engraved wit...

A beautifully enamelled Royal monogram ‘cypher’ presentation ring of Prince Arthur William, Duke of Connaught and Strathern. It was made around 1905 and crafted in 18K gold. It would have started life as a royal presentation lapel pin and has since been converted into a ring. The cypher features crimson and ivory enamel and is placed below an intricate coronet with fleurs-de-lis and crosses pattée, the coronets used by children or grandchildren of the British sovereign...

This rare antique late 18th century gold ring was made in France and features a painted enamel miniature of a shepherd boy holding a crook. This pastoral scene probably depicts David...

A hardstone in grey agate cameo depicting a putto in gold collet settings. The size cameo is 13mm x 10mm Size 7 1/4 Weight:5.68gr. Probably Northern Italy, cameo late 16th-early 17th...

Brown agate intaglio depicting Mucius Scaevola in front of Porsenna, placing his right hand on a brazier, 17th century. Mounted in a 18kt yellow gold ring in the antique style with r...

The bronze ring with an octagonal plaque carved with merchant's symbols. Top size : 20mm Late 17th century Ring size 8 3/4 Weight: 11.20

Engraved with the crest to a plain band. Size 9 Top size 22m diameter Weight: 25gr