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Description: | A fragment of a Roman copper alloy finger ring inset with dark blue (almost black) glass intaglio. Roughly half of the ring survives, the thinner part opposite the bezel having broken off in antiquity. The ring form is similar to Henig's figure 2, type XU (Henig, M. 1974, A Corpus of Roman Engraved gemstones from British sites, BAR 8). It has a pronounced and slightly expanding bezel. The oval intaglio is set flush with the surface of the bezel and the slightly convex face is impressed with a crude, stick-like figure. There is a roughly longitudinal crack to the far right-hand side of the intaglio. It would seem that the intaglio was too small for the stamp since the figure, which almost fills the surface of the gem is only visible to the waist. The impressing has been so lightly done that one of the figure's arms and both of its legs would not have been translated to the intaglio in any case. The figure (viewed in impression) is advancing to the left with the left arm curving downwards behind as if to hold up the hem of a dress. The posture and position of the figure strongly recall representations of Spes (Hope) on the Roman coinage and particularly the radiate issues of the later third century although the poor quality of the intaglio renders complete certainty impossible. It dates from the 3rd century AD. The width of the bezel at its widest point is llmm, tapering to a minimum of 4mm and its maximum length is 21mm. The intaglio is approximately 1lmm in length and 8mm wide. It weighs 3.98g.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/r... | Go to resource |
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