Victorian Hardstone Intaglio 18 Karat Yellow Gold Griffin Unisex Signet Ring

Comprised of an oval-shaped face carved with an intaglio of a heraldic crest Depicting a knights helmet above a shield form with chevron and griffons Griffon heads are depicted with ...

Centering an oval-shaped garnet cabochon measuring 13.5 x 17.0 mm Transparent dark/medium red in color - bezel set With ornately engraved surround and shank Depicting scrolling flo...

Centering a rectangular face featuring an intaglio of the MIT mascot, a beaver Depicted chewing a twig with textured fur - lovingly called 'The Brass Rat' Flanked by highly rendered ...

Centering a oval-shaped signet face centering a carved intaglio carving of a fox Depicted walking with engraved texture fur Accented by grooved woodgrain surround Engraving extends d...

This DUBINI coin ring from the 'Empires' collection features a relief of a gnostic intaglio with a Scorpio holding a moon and star circa 3rd Century A.D. in 18kt yellow gold. HISTOR...

Exuding timeless elegance, this striking ring features a rectangular Carnelian intricately carved with a rare double head. The stone is set in a warm, gold-toned band adorned with de...

The opposite of a cameo, an intaglio is created by carving below the surface to produce an image in relief, with the purpose of pressing into sealing wax.  An incredible bloodstone ...

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...