DATE: Intaglio, Roman 1st century AD - Ring, Victorian c.1880

An outstanding antique signet ring set with an ancient Roman intaglio. The panel is opaque green glass paste, carved with a wonderfully detailed pastoral scene: a shepherd with three goats, seemingly in a forest clearing. Such pastorals were appealed to city-dwellers, who likely to romanticize the idea of a wandering, country life, and gems like this were worn by many well-off urbanites. This example dates from the Augustan period (1st century AD) and is set in a late 19th century 18k gold signet ring mount. My first thought on seeing the subject was a link with Artemis (via Agamemnon/Actaeon), however on closer inspection the animals appear to be goats not deer... which probably rules her out.

STONES 

Glass Paste

MEASUREMENTS 

Head: 1.4 x 1.3cm

Width of band: 2.8mm

WEIGHT 

7.8g

MARKS 

No marks present, tests as 18k gold

CONDITION 

Very good, wear commensurate with age