A very fine early Hellenistic gold ring with engraved bezel. Aphrodite and Eros.

4th - 3rd century B.C.

Bezel diam : 25 mmring : 20 x 15 mm16,12 gr.

The hoop is rounded without, flat within, ending on a flat large circular bezel. The bezel is engraved with the group of Aphrodite and Eros. The goddess is standing in a contrapposto posture, her right leg slighlty bend forward.She wears a chiton with a himation which shows her body shape by transparency. Turned to the right, she's sprinkling incense on to the flame of a three-legged incense-burner. The little winged god is seated on her right shoulder and turns to crown her. Groundline.Solid gold. Slight wear marks. Very fine condition and rare specimen. For a similar scene and ring see Metropolitan Museum, NY, inv. 06.1125

Parallels :Chabouillet, Anatole. Catalogue général et raisonné des camées et pierres gravées de la Bibliothèque impériale. Paris : 1858, n°2630.Marshall, F.H., 1968,n° 83 et 84Richter, Gisela M. A. 1920. Catalogue of Engraved Gems of the Classical Style. no. 48, pp. 45-46, pl. 20, New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.Lexicon Iconographicum Mythologiae Classicae (LIMC). 1984. Vol. 2: Aphrodisias-Athena. "Aphrodite," p. 41, no. 286, pl. 30, Zürich: Artemis Verlag

Property of a gentleman, London. Acquired at Sotheby's, Antiquities, London, 14th Dec. 1990, lot 93Ex Guilhou CollectionEx Harari CollectionPublished :Guilhou (de Ricci), n° 289Guilhou, n° 132Boardman, GGFR 421, n° 690Boardman, Scarisbrick, n° 11.

Estimate: GBP 20000 - 50000