Bidspirit auction | BYZANTINE GOLD RING WITH INTAGLIO

BYZANTINE GOLD RING WITH INTAGLIO DEPICTING A CROSS AND TWO DOVES - Ca. AD 600 - 700.An extremely rare Byzantine solid gold ring with a round hoop. The hoop has a polygonal section that widens at the shoulders and is embellished with a geometric motif. Atop the shoulders is a high, flower-shaped bezel composed of four petals. The petals are adorned with a cross that has a gold pellet at the centre. The bezel secures a red garnet intaglio depicting a cross with two birds. For similar see: Byzantium and the West, Jewelry in the first Millennium, fg. 11, 23.Size: D:18.75mm / US: 8 3/4 / UK: R; Weight: 7gProvenance: Private UK collection, acquired from the private collection of Mr. R. Unger; previously with Parthenon gallery; acquired in the 1970s on the UK art market. This item has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database and comes with a confirmation letter.