Bidspirit auction | ROMAN CARNELIAN INTAGLIO DEPICTING AN

ROMAN CARNELIAN INTAGLIO DEPICTING AN EMPRESS IN A GOLD RING - Ca. AD 180 - 235.A carnelian intaglio with a left profile portrait of an empress, possibly Julia Mamaea. The hair is styled in rows of finely engraved waves, swept back and secured into a low bun at the nape of the neck, with additional detailing suggesting a braided element. The forehead is smooth and proportionate, leading into a straight nose. The eye is almond-shaped, with a defined brow ridge and a small, delicately incised eyebrow above. The lips are thin and slightly curved, with the chin rounded and subtly projecting. The neck is slender and lightly tapered, transitioning into drapery carved in smooth folds to indicate the garment. The intaglio is set in a gold ring with a flat, oval bezel. The shank is plain and slightly widening towards the shoulders, with a polished surface and smooth edges. The bezel frames the intaglio with a raised rim, ensuring its secure placement within the setting.For similar see: Bagot J., El legado de Hefesto: A Memorial to a Private Collection of Ancient Rings and Glyptics, n. 344, p. 145.Size: D:17.53mm / US: 7 1/4 / UK: O; Weight: 5gProvenance: Private UK collection; previously acquired on the German art market in the 1990s.