ASTA 107 - Glittica

A roman two-layered agate intaglio mounted on an early 19th century gold ring. Muse with mask. 

1st century A.D.

The scene depicts a dramatic Muse standing right with drapery around legs. Her right foot is raised on a stone. Her face is covered with a mask and she looks down on another mask which she holds in her right hand. In her left hand is an attribute. Groundline. Slight wear marks on the surface of the stone. The mounting is formed by a a round hoop of two sections soldered together, extending to the shoulders and dividing into part like branches.

Parallels: National museum of wales, inv. 25.212/2.1

Stone 12 x 14 mm; ring size 16,5 x 18 mm; 1,32 gr.

A roman dark green chalcedony intaglio set in a gold ring. Venus Victrix.

2nd - 3rd century A.D.

The intaglio shows the goddess standing on three-quarters, her left turned right. She wears a thin drapery that she holds with her right hand meanwhile her left hand holds a crested helmet. Behind her, the weapons of god Mars. Groundline. Slight wear marks on the surface of the stone. The gold mounting is with rounded hoop and broader shoulders, and an oval box setting with frame.

int diam 17 mm, intaglio 8x12 mm; 2,67 gr.

A fine roman red jasper intaglio set in a gold ring. Grape harvest scene with Erotes.

1st - 2nd century A.D.

The two graceful characters are depicted harvesting grapes bunches from the same plant. One of them is on a scale, to reach the higher grapes. Very fine depiction. Light chipping is on the lower edge of the stone. Parallel: Jeffrey Spier, Ancient gems and finger rings, Catalogue of the Collections. The J. Paul Getty Museum, p. 103, n 252.

Stone 10 x 13 mm; ring size 17 x 18,5 mm circa; 6,78 gr.

A roman red jasper intaglio set in a gold ring. Hades with Cerberus.

2nd - 3rd century A.D.

The intaglio shows the seated god Hades, in three-quarters, the head turned right and wearing a long chiton with cloak. In his right hand he holds a scepter meanwhile with his left toward his three-headed dog, guardian of the gates of the Underworld, Cerberus. Groundline. Slight wear marks on the surface of the stone and deposits. The ancient gold mounting is quite large with rounded hoop and broad shoulders. On the bottom of the hoop: owl french hallmark.

int diam 18 mm; intaglio 11x13 mm; 8,73 gr.

A roman carnelian intaglio set in a gold ring. Athena with Nike.

2nd century A.D.

The intaglio shows the goddess Minerva seated turning left. She wears a crested helmet, a long dress, and holds a spear in her right hand. Her right knee bent, she looks at the winged Nike, holding a laurel wreath in her hands. On the ground, a shield. Groundline. Slight wear marks and chips on the edge. The ancient gold mounting is with rounded hoop, flattened within and broader at the shoulders. Owl french hallmark on the bottom of the hoop.

int diam 18 mm; intaglio 9x11 mm; 4,29 gr.

A roman carnelian intaglio mounted on a modern gold ring. Ritual scene with herm.

2nd century A.D.

The intaglio shows two male characters worshipping an hermaic pillar. The seated one is holding a crown (?) meanwhile the standing one is putting a garland on the bust. Groundline. The gold mounting is with rounded hoop and with french owl hallmark. Slight wear marks on the surface and slight chip on the edge. Allegorical scene.

int diam 18 mm; intaglio 12x14 mm; 7,39 gr.

A late roman gold ring set with a burnt agate intaglio. Athena nikephora.

3rd century A.D.

With rounded hoop, flatten within, composed of braided plaited wires with pellets soldered on either side at the ends. The bezel is in the form of an oval box-sexting containing a burnt agate intaglio. Athena standing and turned right. She wears a long belted chiton, an helmet, shield and spear in he wright hand. On her left hand she holds a Victory. 

Restoration on the mounting around the bezel. 

Parallel: Marshall, F.H., Catalogue of the singer rings, British Museum, 1968, Pl.XV-XVI, 515,560.

Stone 10 x 14 mm; ring size 17 x 21 mm; 4,73 gr.

A roman gold ring set with a red jasper intaglio. Fortuna-Tyche.

2nd century A.D.

With rounded hoop, flatten within, extending with broader shoulders on an oval bezel set with a red jasper intaglio. The scene depicts a seated woman, turned left. She wears a chiton and hold a cornucopia, poppy flower and ear of corn in her hands. At her feet, a rudder. Groundline. Signs of wears on the surface of the stone.

Stone 8 x 9 mm; ring size diam. 14 mm; 6,24 gr.

A roman gold ring with carnelian intaglio. Eros with weapons.

1st - 2nd century A.D.

With large rounded hoop, flatten within extending on an oval bezel containing a carnelian intaglio. The stone depicts a winged helmeted eros standing and turned left, his right leg bent rests on an helmet. In front of him, spear and shield. Groundline.

Stone 0,9 x 13 mm; ring size diam 17, 5 mm circa; 10,06 gr.

A roman carnelian intaglio set in a gold ring. Pastoral scene.

3rd century A.D.

The hoop is plain, the shoulders extending from two plaited ribbons in leaf and volute shapes and raised in an oval bezel.The box-setting contains a carnelian intaglio figuring a pastoral scene. A shepherd seated turned left and milking a goat. Signs of wears on the surface of the stone.


Stone 11 x 13,5 mm; ring size 19 x 20 mm; 9,12 gr.

A roman carnelian intaglio set in a gold stick pin. Female figure with attributes.

1st century A.D.

Female allegorical figure, with attributes. Probably Artemis, goddess of the Moon and Hunt. The draped figure, frontally depicted, is crowned by a Victory; two dogs and a pray close her feet. She is depicted holding two ears of wheat and a fasces (fascio littorio?), with two cornucopiae on the top. Chips on the edge. Rare.

Stone 14 x 18 mm; H. 66 mm; 4 gr

A roman carnelian intaglio set in a gold stick pin. Pastoral scene.

2nd century A.D.

A shepherd is sitting, facing left, on top of a rock, milking a goat. Behind his back, the curved stick. Slight wear marks.

intaglio 13x17x6 mm; overall 15x18 mm; length 74 mm; 4,44 gr.