Roman Silver Ring with Portrait Gemstone. 1st century B.C.-1st century A.D. A silver ring with almost round hoop and slightly expanding shoulders, oval bezel with gilt rim and inset dark amethyst gemstone; engraved with a helmetted warrior in profile, looking right (Ares?) Cf. Chadour, A.B., Rings. The Alice and Louis Koch Collection, volume I, Leeds, 1994, item 134, for type. 4.31 grams, 21.66 mm overall, 15.88 mm internal diameter (approximate size British K, USA 5 1/4, Europe 9.95, Japan 9) (3/4 in.) UK private collection before 2000. UK art market. Property of a London gentleman. This Roman ring belongs to the Hellenistic tradition but is typical of the 1st century B.C. The image of the helmetted warrior, probably a representation of the god Mars (Greek Ares) is still strongly Greek and it is not impossible that the ring and gemstone were created contextually. [No Reserve]

Fine condition.