Jewellery, Objects of Vertu, Silver and Watches

A 16th - 17th century intaglio carnelian inset ring, the oval carnelian bezel intaglio (chipped) carved to depict the profile of a beaded male bust, possibly the Roman emperor Antoninus Pius (Roman emperor AD 138 to 161), collet set within a gold mount with toothed white enamel decoration to the sides, to a band distorted but supporting traces of white and orange enamel, weight 3.78gm. £700-£900

This lot is a detectorist find and is registered with the The Portable Antiquities Scheme. The find number is CORN-D06924.

View Find on
PAS Website

This ring was discovered by a metal detectorist near Mevagissey, Cornwall in July 2021. It is recorded on the Portable Antiquities Scheme database, ref: CORN-D06924 and disclaimed as Treasure, ref: 2021 T542.

In her book Rings, Symbols of Wealth, Power and Affection, Diana Scarisbrick notes that in the 16th century “enamel - thick black, white and blue with spots of translucent colour, is applied to the hoop, shoulders, sides and back of the bezel”.

The band of this ring would have been completely enamelled in white, with small irregular raised areas in the shape of flames, one of which still retains its original orange translucent enamel. The survival of orange enamel is unusual.

Bezel measures 12.25 x 9.89mm. The carnelian shows some general surface wear and significant chips to the bottom edge; the intaglio portrait is well carved with brown ‘earth’ deposits in the detail.
The white enamel only partially remains and shows significant wear. The band is distorted, and is keyed all the way around for white enamel, with small irregular raised areas in the shapes of flames, one of which still retains it original orange translucent enamel.
Weight 3.78gm.
According to a PMI test on the XRF Analyzer, the ring is testing as 20.64ct gold, with traces of silver, copper, iron, bismuth. etc.