STUNNING ROMAN ROCK CRYSTAL DIANA INTAGLIO IN GOLD RING
Ca. 100-200 AD.
An oval rock crystal intaglio depicting a right-facing female bust, flanked by quiver and arrows. The latter led to identifying this female portrait as a depiction of the Roman goddess Diana. The intaglio is set in a possibly later gold ring comprising a simple yet elegant design. In Roman art, Diana usually appears as a huntress with a bow and quiver, accompanied by a hound or deer. In Rome, the most important temple of Diana was on the Aventine. This temple housed the foundation charter of the Latin League and was said to date back to King Servius Tullius (6th century BC). Another important centre for the worship of Diana was Ephesus, where the Temple of Artemis (or Diana) was one of the Seven Wonders of the World. For a comparable example, see Richer Gisela M. A., Catalogue of Engraved Gems. Greek, Etruscan and Roman, (Met Museum), Plate XXXIX, 282.
Size: D: 17.32mm / US: 7 / UK: N 1/2; 6.78g
Provenance: Property of a London collector; formerly in a Japanesse collection formed in the 1990s.
Estimate: GBP 2000 - 3000