16th century gold ring with an ancient heliotrope intaglio

Depicting a warrior, possibly Apollo, holding a bow in his left hand and a downward pointing spear in his right, mounted in a gold ring with engraved decoration around the bezel showing remnants of coloured enamel.

Engraved gems, and gem engraving, enjoyed a revival during the renaissance and those most highly prized were ancient examples. Indeed Benvenuto Cellini, the most famous of renaissance goldsmiths, mentions in his autobiography how dazzling ancient gems were discovered in the vineyards around Rome, destined to be used again in a 16th century masterpiece. Thinking of a hard gemstone a millennium or more old and carved with images of the gods, one can easily imagine how a nobleman of the middle 1500’s would find the romance and mysticism of an ancient gem enrapturing

The gem circa 2nd century AD, the ring German circa 1550

10mm wide, the gem 9x7mm. Weight 8.3g gross

Finger size approximately UK - U, US - 10 1/4, FR - 62 3/4

For two similar examples, in particular the engraved decoration, see:
“Rings: Alice and Louis Koch Collection” by Anna Beatriz Chadour. Page 200, rings number 652 and 653

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