{"title":"The November Collection | 7 November 2026","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe November Collection brings together the 22 gold and silver rings selected for our 7 November 2026 newsletter.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis page preserves that selection. Product cards show current prices and availability, including sold pieces.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"roman-gold-ring-celer-1st-c-bce-1st-c-ce-carnelian-intaglio","title":"Roman Gold Ring - 'Celer' (ca. 1st c. BCE–1st c. CE) EU 55 \/ US 7.25","description":"\u003cp\u003eA Roman gold signet ring named 'Celer', set with a carnelian intaglio of a man in a toga beside a horse, both badges of status in Roman life. A gold pellet is applied at each shoulder where the hoop meets the broad oval bezel.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Engraving:\u003cbr\u003eThe horse stands at the left, one foreleg raised and bent, its arched neck crested by a mane cut in short parallel strokes. Behind it the man faces the same way, his toga falling in straight vertical folds, one arm reaching toward the horse's head. The toga was the formal dress of the Roman citizen, and a horse, costly to keep, belonged to a man of means.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDetails:\u003cbr\u003eEra: Roman\u003cbr\u003eMaterial: Gold, carnelian intaglio\u003cbr\u003eRing Size: EU 55 \/ US 7.25\u003cbr\u003eWeight: 5.5 g\u003cbr\u003eCondition: A fine crack in the carnelian near the horse's hind legs; the stone probably reset; light scratches on its face; dark and pale deposits in the recesses and joins of the gold\u003cbr\u003eProvenance: Private London collection; formerly in an old family collection formed between the 1960s and 2000.\u003cbr\u003eUnique Identifier: R-639-G\u003cbr\u003eAuthenticity: Comes with certificate of authenticity\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCondition and Authenticity:\u003cbr\u003eThis original comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and our written lifetime authenticity guarantee.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHistorical Context:\u003cbr\u003eThe ring is built from separate parts: a hammered round hoop, its ends butted against a closed oval box, and above it a broad oval plate that holds the stone. An impression would show horse and man in relief, facing the other way, so the gem could serve as its owner's seal. At the time, the right to wear a gold ring belonged by law and custom to senators and knights, so the metal itself marked rank.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBoth the gold of the hoop and the citizen beside his horse made the same Roman claim to rank.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eExplore more \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/ancient-roman-rings\"\u003eRoman rings\u003c\/a\u003e from our collection.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aurora Antiqua","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":64264787296586,"sku":"R-639-G","price":3400.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0897\/7140\/9738\/files\/celer-angled-front-view-of-the-gold-ring-and-its-carnelian-intaglio-1.jpg?v=1794040484"},{"product_id":"roman-silver-ring-lucrio-1st-3rd-c-ce-mercury-intaglio","title":"Roman Silver Ring - 'Lucrio' (ca. 1st–3rd c. CE) EU 58.25 \/ US 8.5","description":"\u003cp\u003eA silver signet ring named 'Lucrio', set with a Roman carnelian intaglio of Mercury, god of trade, profit and safe travel. A raised oval collar holds the stone above a flat band that narrows toward the back.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Engraving:\u003cbr\u003eMercury stands nude on a groundline, body frontal, head turned left in profile. He holds the purse out in his right hand, while the caduceus, his herald's staff, rises at his left shoulder with the cloak hanging from that arm. The purse marks him as the god of profit, called on by traders before a bargain and by travellers before a journey.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDetails:\u003cbr\u003eEra: Roman\u003cbr\u003eMaterial: Silver, carnelian intaglio\u003cbr\u003eRing Size: EU 58.25 \/ US 8.5\u003cbr\u003eWeight: 5.8 g\u003cbr\u003eCondition: Dark tarnish over the silver with paler worn high points; a tan deposit inside the band and at the collar; fine scratches across the carnelian and small irregularities at its edge\u003cbr\u003eProvenance: Private London collection; previously on the Dutch art market in the 1980s.\u003cbr\u003eUnique Identifier: R-640-S\u003cbr\u003eAuthenticity: Comes with certificate of authenticity\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCondition and Authenticity:\u003cbr\u003eThis original comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and our written lifetime authenticity guarantee.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHistorical Context:\u003cbr\u003eCarnelian is hard enough to hold a fine cut, and Roman engravers worked such gems with drills and abrasive wheels, sinking the device below the surface. Pressed into wax, this one leaves the god in relief and reversed, an impression that could serve as its owner's signature. The silver ring, possibly later than the gem, grips the stone with a rim burnished down over its edge. As messenger of the gods, Mercury also suited a seal that closed and authorised letters.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMercury holds out his purse to the carnelian's owner, offering profit in trade and a safe road home.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eExplore more \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/ancient-roman-rings\"\u003eRoman rings\u003c\/a\u003e from our collection.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aurora Antiqua","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":64264799715658,"sku":"R-640-S","price":1400.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0897\/7140\/9738\/files\/lucrio-angled-front-view-of-the-silver-ring-and-its-carnelian-intaglio-1.jpg?v=1794040573"},{"product_id":"roman-silver-ring-audax-1st-3rd-c-ce-hercules-intaglio","title":"Roman Silver Ring - 'Audax' (ca. 1st–3rd c. CE) EU 53.25 \/ US 6.5","description":"\u003cp\u003eA silver signet ring named 'Audax', set with a Roman carnelian intaglio of Hercules wrestling the Nemean lion, a sign of strength and of trials overcome. Scroll-cut shoulders frame the oval setting.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Engraving:\u003cbr\u003eHercules stands at the left, nude, leaning into the fight with both arms locked around the neck of the lion, which rears upright against him. The engraver modelled the hero's muscles in rounded drill work and gave the lion a hatched mane and a tail curling up to a tuft; both stand on a short groundline. No blade could pierce the lion's hide, so Hercules choked it with his bare hands, the first of his twelve labours.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDetails:\u003cbr\u003eEra: Roman\u003cbr\u003eMaterial: Silver, carnelian intaglio\u003cbr\u003eRing Size: EU 53.25 \/ US 6.5\u003cbr\u003eWeight: 4 g\u003cbr\u003eCondition: Dark tarnish on the silver with brighter rubbed edges; a tan deposit in the scroll notches, inside the hoop and in the engraving, covering the hero's head; fine scratches across the carnelian\u003cbr\u003eProvenance: Private London collection; previously on the Dutch art market in the 1980s.\u003cbr\u003eUnique Identifier: R-641-S\u003cbr\u003eAuthenticity: Comes with certificate of authenticity\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCondition and Authenticity:\u003cbr\u003eThis original comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and our written lifetime authenticity guarantee.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHistorical Context:\u003cbr\u003eSunk below the surface of the carnelian, the scene prints in relief and reversed when pressed into wax, with the hero on the right. Gems of this kind gave their owners a personal seal to close a document or mark a possession. The silver ring, possibly later than the gem, carries it in a separate collet seated on a flat plate. Hercules won a place among the gods through his labours, and his image promised the wearer strength to come through hardship.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe hero's bare-handed victory over the lion, cut in carnelian, lent its strength to whoever wore the ring.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eExplore more \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/ancient-roman-rings\"\u003eRoman rings\u003c\/a\u003e from our collection.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aurora Antiqua","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":64264801321290,"sku":"R-641-S","price":2400.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0897\/7140\/9738\/files\/audax-angled-front-view-of-the-silver-ring-and-its-carnelian-intaglio-1.jpg?v=1794040601"},{"product_id":"roman-silver-ring-fidus-3rd-4th-c-ce-engraved-bust","title":"Roman Silver Ring - 'Fidus' (ca. 3rd–4th c. CE) EU 57.5 \/ US 8.25","description":"\u003cp\u003eA Roman silver signet ring named 'Fidus', its oval bezel engraved with a profile portrait, most likely of a young emperor, a mark of loyalty to the ruler. The slender hoop widens without a break into the broad bezel.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Engraving:\u003cbr\u003eThe head is cut in profile, brow and nose in one straight line above a small mouth and a rounded chin. Short curls, rendered as rows of large round pellets, cover the top and back of the head, with pointed leaf sprays and a thin fillet across the brow, and a crescent of drapery closes the bust. On the bezel the head faces right; in wax it would face left. On a ring, a ruler's likeness made plain where its wearer's allegiance lay.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDetails:\u003cbr\u003eEra: Roman\u003cbr\u003eMaterial: Silver\u003cbr\u003eRing Size: EU 57.5 \/ US 8.25\u003cbr\u003eWeight: 10 g\u003cbr\u003eCondition: Matte grey silver, finely granular and pitted over hoop and bezel, with brighter metal on the high points; dark deposit in the cuts of the device; short scratches in the field beside the face\u003cbr\u003eProvenance: Private London collection; previously on the Dutch art market in the 1980s.\u003cbr\u003eUnique Identifier: R-642-S\u003cbr\u003eAuthenticity: Comes with certificate of authenticity\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCondition and Authenticity:\u003cbr\u003eThis original comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and our written lifetime authenticity guarantee.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHistorical Context:\u003cbr\u003eThis is a solid silver ring with the device cut straight into the metal of the bezel rather than into a set stone. The hoop is round outside and flatter inside, with no moulding at the shoulders. A device sunk into the metal works as a seal: pressed into wax, it leaves the head in relief, so the ring could sign for its owner. In this period the ruler's image was honoured as if it were the ruler himself, so a portrait carried on the finger kept that presence close to its wearer.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEngraved into the silver itself, the profile head let a single ring serve as seal and as portrait.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eExplore more \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/ancient-roman-rings\"\u003eRoman rings\u003c\/a\u003e from our collection.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aurora Antiqua","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":64264804237642,"sku":"R-642-S","price":1900.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0897\/7140\/9738\/files\/fidus-angled-front-view-of-the-silver-ring-and-its-dark-intaglio-1.jpg?v=1794040634"},{"product_id":"byzantine-gold-ring-kyanos-4th-6th-c-ce-enamel-cross","title":"Byzantine Gold Ring - 'Kyanos' (ca. 4th–6th c. CE) EU 59.5 \/ US 9","description":"\u003cp\u003eA Byzantine gold ring named 'Kyanos', its high conical bezel bearing a gold cross, the sign of Christian faith and protection, on a blue enamel ground. The cone lifts the round face well above the plain hoop.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Motif:\u003cbr\u003eAn equal-armed gold cross with broad, flared, flat-ended arms spreads across the blue field, a small roundel at the crossing. Fine incised lines follow the edges of each arm and mark out a trapezoidal inner field, and an incised ring outlines the roundel. The cross professed its wearer's faith and called on Christ's protection.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDetails:\u003cbr\u003eEra: Byzantine\u003cbr\u003eMaterial: Gold, blue enamel\u003cbr\u003eRing Size: EU 59.5 \/ US 9\u003cbr\u003eWeight: 5.7 g\u003cbr\u003eCondition: Bright gold with fine scratches on the outer hoop; red-brown deposits inside the hoop and along the cross and bezel rim; the blue ground slightly irregular at the rim\u003cbr\u003eProvenance: Private London collection; formerly in an old family collection formed between the 1960s and 2000.\u003cbr\u003eUnique Identifier: R-643-G\u003cbr\u003eAuthenticity: Comes with certificate of authenticity\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCondition and Authenticity:\u003cbr\u003eThis original comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and our written lifetime authenticity guarantee.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHistorical Context:\u003cbr\u003eA flat hoop, hammered on its outer face, carries a separately made truncated cone soldered to its top, with a collar under the round face. Enamel is powdered glass fused by firing, and goldsmiths used it to lay a coloured ground around a gold device. With no reversed device to print in wax, this is a ring for display and devotion, not for sealing. In these centuries the cross became the public emblem of the faith, struck on coins and worked into church plate and dress.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGold, blue enamel and a cross carried high on its cone: devotion made to be seen.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eExplore more \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/byzantine-rings\"\u003eByzantine rings\u003c\/a\u003e from our collection.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aurora Antiqua","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":64264805777738,"sku":"R-643-G","price":3500.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0897\/7140\/9738\/files\/kyanos-angled-front-view-of-the-gold-ring-and-its-cross-and-blue-inlay-1.jpg?v=1794040665"},{"product_id":"roman-silver-ring-gressus-2nd-5th-c-ce-animal-intaglio","title":"Roman Silver Ring - 'Gressus' (ca. 2nd–5th c. CE) EU 58.25 \/ US 8.5","description":"\u003cp\u003eA silver signet ring named 'Gressus', set with a Roman intaglio in reddish-brown stone: a quadruped walking left, cut to serve as a personal seal. A broad collar on a raised plate holds the oval gem above a faceted hoop.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Engraving:\u003cbr\u003eThe quadruped walks to the left, its long body cut as a rounded oval and its legs as a few short strokes, with a fan of diagonal lines at one end. Beyond the rounded body, the cutter kept to straight strokes and left out fine detail. On a seal stone, an animal like this served as its owner's sign, read in the wax like a written name.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDetails:\u003cbr\u003eEra: Roman\u003cbr\u003eMaterial: Silver, reddish-brown stone intaglio\u003cbr\u003eRing Size: EU 58.25 \/ US 8.5\u003cbr\u003eWeight: 4 g\u003cbr\u003eCondition: Dark grey tarnish, rubbed lighter on the facets; small pits on the shoulders; a buff deposit inside the hoop; scratches and a dark spot on the stone; a slight gap between stone and collar\u003cbr\u003eProvenance: Private UK collection; previously acquired on the Austrian art market in the 1990s.\u003cbr\u003eUnique Identifier: R-644-S\u003cbr\u003eAuthenticity: Comes with certificate of authenticity\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCondition and Authenticity:\u003cbr\u003eThis original comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and our written lifetime authenticity guarantee.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHistorical Context:\u003cbr\u003eRoman intaglios were cut in reverse into the polished face of the stone, so that the device came out the right way round in wax. A seal pressed onto a letter or the lid of a jar showed that nothing had been opened since it was sealed. The silver mount, possibly later than the gem, holds it in a broad collar. Animals belonged to the gem cutters' stock of devices, chosen for the qualities a creature stood for or as a play on the owner's name.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe walking animal on this reddish-brown stone was made to stand in wax for one owner.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eExplore more \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/ancient-roman-rings\"\u003eRoman rings\u003c\/a\u003e from our collection.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aurora Antiqua","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":64264806662474,"sku":"R-644-S","price":1100.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0897\/7140\/9738\/files\/gressus-angled-front-view-of-the-silver-ring-and-its-small-oval-intaglio-1.jpg?v=1794040696"},{"product_id":"post-medieval-silver-ring-fidelitas-15th-19th-c-ce-claddagh","title":"Post-Medieval Silver Ring - 'Fidelitas' (ca. 15th–19th c. CE) EU 64.75 \/ US 11","description":"\u003cp\u003eA post-medieval silver Claddagh ring named 'Fidelitas', its gilt bezel a heart between two hands beneath a crown: friendship, love and loyalty in one device. Narrow ribs at the shoulders mark where the cuffs meet a thin, flat hoop.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Motif:\u003cbr\u003eTwo hands with ribbed cuffs meet at a stylised heart, their fingers marked with shallow cut lines, and a crown of rounded cusps rises above. Four small round holes pierce the bezel, two in the crown and two below the hands. Read together, the hands stood for friendship, the heart for love and the crown for loyalty.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDetails:\u003cbr\u003eEra: Post-Medieval\u003cbr\u003eMaterial: Silver-gilt\u003cbr\u003eRing Size: EU 64.75 \/ US 11\u003cbr\u003eWeight: 3 g\u003cbr\u003eCondition: Grey tarnish and a dense web of fine scratches on the hoop, inside and out; darker deposits in the recesses of the bezel; high points of cuffs, fingers and crown rounded and smooth\u003cbr\u003eProvenance: London ancient art gallery; formerly in the Alison Barker collection, assembled between the early 1960s and the 1990s.\u003cbr\u003eUnique Identifier: R-659-S\u003cbr\u003eAuthenticity: Comes with certificate of authenticity\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCondition and Authenticity:\u003cbr\u003eThis original comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and our written lifetime authenticity guarantee.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHistorical Context:\u003cbr\u003eRings with hands, a heart and a crown belong to the family of love tokens that grew from the fede ring, whose bezel was two clasped hands, a pledge of faith. Bezels of this kind were cast and then finished with fine tools. Lovers gave them at betrothal, couples wore them as wedding rings, and friends exchanged them as a sign of trust. Given with a promise of marriage, such a ring stood for the vow itself, and its three signs set out the terms.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHands, heart and crown say in silver what lovers promised each other aloud.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eExplore more \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/post-medieval-rings\"\u003ePost-Medieval rings\u003c\/a\u003e from our collection.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aurora Antiqua","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":64264807547210,"sku":"R-659-S","price":1000.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0897\/7140\/9738\/files\/fidelitas-angled-front-view-of-the-silver-ring-and-its-heart-and-hands-motif-1.jpg?v=1794040724"},{"product_id":"medieval-silver-ring-blostma-10th-12th-c-ce-rosette-bezel","title":"Medieval Silver Ring - 'Blostma' (ca. 10th–12th c. CE) EU 59 \/ US 8.75","description":"\u003cp\u003eA heavy medieval silver ring named 'Blostma', its broad lobed bezel engraved with a rosette of rays and leaves, a flower that doubles as a sun, for light and good fortune. The thin bezel plate overhangs a plain, broad hoop.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Engraving:\u003cbr\u003eAt the centre, a roundel of short radiating strokes sits inside a more deeply cut circle. Straight rays run out from it to the edge and form a star of about ten points, and a pointed leaf fills each lobe. The lines were cut freehand with a graver, uneven in length and spacing. The rays make the centre a sun, and the leaves turn the whole face into a flower.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDetails:\u003cbr\u003eEra: Medieval\u003cbr\u003eMaterial: Silver\u003cbr\u003eRing Size: EU 59 \/ US 8.75\u003cbr\u003eWeight: 8.6 g\u003cbr\u003eCondition: Bezel face bright; the hoop grey with darker patches of tarnish; a buff deposit in the engraved lines and inside the hoop; lobe edges softly rounded\u003cbr\u003eProvenance: Old British collection formed in the 1990s; previously acquired in Vienna.\u003cbr\u003eUnique Identifier: R-660-S\u003cbr\u003eAuthenticity: Comes with certificate of authenticity\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCondition and Authenticity:\u003cbr\u003eThis original comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and our written lifetime authenticity guarantee.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHistorical Context:\u003cbr\u003eSet flat on a plain hoop, a lobed plate of this kind gave the engraver a wide, even field. With no lettering and no owner's mark, the engraving is decoration rather than a seal, and the broad face was made for display on the hand. To a medieval wearer, sun and flower signs carried wishes for life and growth, and on a ring they may also have served as a charm against harm.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSun and flower share one silver face, engraved together as an image of light.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eExplore more \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/medieval-crusader-rings\"\u003eMedieval rings\u003c\/a\u003e from our collection.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aurora Antiqua","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":64264808989002,"sku":"R-660-S","price":750.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0897\/7140\/9738\/files\/blostma-angled-front-view-of-the-silver-ring-and-its-engraved-rosette-1.jpg?v=1794040755"},{"product_id":"roman-gold-ring-dapsilis-2nd-5th-c-ce-amphora-bezel","title":"Roman Gold Ring - 'Dapsilis' (ca. 2nd–5th c. CE) EU 55.75 \/ US 7.5","description":"\u003cp\u003eA Roman gold ring named 'Dapsilis', its rectangular bezel carrying a two-handled amphora in relief, a sign of abundance. Scrolled shoulder blocks rise from a slender hoop to frame the bezel.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Motif:\u003cbr\u003eThe amphora stands on a short stem and a lens-shaped foot, its body a pointed oval with a central rib and paired leaves. Two upright handles rise to curled volutes beside the neck, which is ringed by horizontal mouldings. The two halves mirror each other line for line. To a Roman eye, a jar like this meant a full cellar and a generous table.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDetails:\u003cbr\u003eEra: Roman\u003cbr\u003eMaterial: Gold\u003cbr\u003eRing Size: EU 55.75 \/ US 7.5\u003cbr\u003eWeight: 7.7 g\u003cbr\u003eCondition: Bright gold; fine scratches on the bezel back and inside the hoop; small nicks at the chamfered corners; fine diagonal finishing lines across the field; a darker film in some recesses\u003cbr\u003eProvenance: Private UK collection (M.A.); previously acquired on the London art market before 2000.\u003cbr\u003eUnique Identifier: R-661-G\u003cbr\u003eAuthenticity: Comes with certificate of authenticity\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCondition and Authenticity:\u003cbr\u003eThis original comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and our written lifetime authenticity guarantee.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHistorical Context:\u003cbr\u003eGold rings with a raised metal bezel carried their device in the metal itself rather than on a set stone. Here the bezel sits a step above shoulder blocks, probably cast, each with a central slot and a pair of outward-rolled scrolls, and leaves run down the flanks. At 7.7 grams of gold, the ring marked its owner's wealth, and the vessel on its bezel presented abundance as a personal emblem. Vessels of this kind belonged to the imagery of the Roman banquet, where hospitality was itself a mark of standing.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePlenty was the promise of the amphora, and the gold around it was the proof.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eExplore more \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/ancient-roman-rings\"\u003eRoman rings\u003c\/a\u003e from our collection.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aurora Antiqua","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":64264810561866,"sku":"R-661-G","price":4400.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0897\/7140\/9738\/files\/dapsilis-angled-front-view-of-the-gold-ring-and-its-raised-amphora-1.jpg?v=1794040787"},{"product_id":"roman-gold-ring-alatus-1st-4th-c-ce-agate-intaglio","title":"Roman Gold Ring - 'Alatus' (ca. 1st–4th c. CE) EU 53.25 \/ US 6.5","description":"\u003cp\u003eA Roman gold signet ring named 'Alatus', set with a banded agate cut in intaglio with a standing winged figure, most likely Eros, god of love and desire. Pierced scrollwork fills the broad shoulders on either side of the raised bezel.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Engraving:\u003cbr\u003eThe figure stands turned three-quarters to the front, a slender upright body with wings spread to the upper left and upper right in fans of straight strokes. A stepped block rises at the lower left. The cutting is linear, the strokes wedge-ended, without modelling. Eros was the power of desire itself, felt by gods and mortals alike.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDetails:\u003cbr\u003eEra: Roman\u003cbr\u003eMaterial: Gold, banded agate intaglio\u003cbr\u003eRing Size: EU 53.25 \/ US 6.5\u003cbr\u003eWeight: 8.4 g\u003cbr\u003eCondition: Bright gold; fine scratches and softened high points on the facets and collar rim; a red-brown deposit in the piercings and around the bezel back; small nicks and a dark spot on the stone\u003cbr\u003eProvenance: Private London collection; formerly in an old family collection formed between the 1960s and 2000.\u003cbr\u003eUnique Identifier: R-662-G\u003cbr\u003eAuthenticity: Comes with certificate of authenticity\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCondition and Authenticity:\u003cbr\u003eThis original comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and our written lifetime authenticity guarantee.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHistorical Context:\u003cbr\u003eBroad gold hoops that widen into decorated shoulders around a raised bezel belong to the costlier Roman ring forms. On this ring the faceted hoop runs into shoulders and a bezel platform pierced through with S-scrolls and lobed tendrils, leaving a lacework of gold around the plain collar. Such a ring displayed its owner's wealth, and its engraved stone could also serve as a seal. A seal stone cut with Eros doubled as a love charm, worn for success in love as well as for signing.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWith pierced gold around its winged figure, the ring was a seal made as much for the hand as for the wax.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eExplore more \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/ancient-roman-rings\"\u003eRoman rings\u003c\/a\u003e from our collection.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aurora Antiqua","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":64264822030666,"sku":"R-662-G","price":3200.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0897\/7140\/9738\/files\/alatus-angled-front-view-of-the-gold-ring-and-its-carnelian-intaglio-1.jpg?v=1794040817"},{"product_id":"greek-gold-ring-naidion-4th-3rd-c-bce-temple-facade","title":"Greek Gold Ring - 'Naidion' (ca. 4th–3rd c. BCE) EU 48.75 \/ US 4.75","description":"\u003cp\u003eA Greek gold ring named 'Naidion', its broad round bezel carrying the front of a small temple, an image of devotion. A slender hoop flattens and widens into the shoulders where it meets the thin plate.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Motif:\u003cbr\u003eThe facade is worked in raised relief: two columns with ringed capitals and bases rest on a stepped platform and carry a double-lined entablature under a triangular pediment. Rows of oval pellets line the raking cornices and the entablature, five round pellets fill the pediment, and a single pellet crowns its apex. The space between the columns is left open, with no cult image, so the facade presents the god's house without naming its god.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDetails:\u003cbr\u003eEra: Greek\u003cbr\u003eMaterial: Gold\u003cbr\u003eRing Size: EU 48.75 \/ US 4.75\u003cbr\u003eWeight: 3.8 g\u003cbr\u003eCondition: Bright bezel with fine scratches and a few small pits; a nick at the right end of the entablature; plate slightly warped and hoop a little distorted; reddish and dark deposits on the reverse\u003cbr\u003eProvenance: UK private collection; previously on the London market, ex Parthenon Gallery, 1990s.\u003cbr\u003eUnique Identifier: R-664-G\u003cbr\u003eAuthenticity: Comes with certificate of authenticity\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCondition and Authenticity:\u003cbr\u003eThis original comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and our written lifetime authenticity guarantee.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHistorical Context:\u003cbr\u003eRings with a broad, nearly flat round bezel on a light hoop belong to Greek goldwork of the period, and such large forms could be made from thin gold sheet. A device in raised relief reads the right way round to anyone facing the wearer, where an engraved seal reads true only once pressed into wax. For the Greeks, a temple was the dwelling of a god, the building that sheltered the cult statue, and its columned front could stand for the whole sanctuary. Carried on a ring, the facade asked that god for protection wherever the wearer went.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTwo columns and a pediment on a disc of thin gold: a whole sanctuary brought down to the width of a finger.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eExplore more \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/ancient-greek-rings\"\u003eGreek rings\u003c\/a\u003e from our collection.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aurora Antiqua","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":64264823701834,"sku":"R-664-G","price":2000.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0897\/7140\/9738\/files\/naidion-angled-front-view-of-the-gold-ring-and-its-temple-motif-1.jpg?v=1794040847"},{"product_id":"roman-gold-ring-tertullus-1st-3rd-c-ce-carnelian-intaglio","title":"Roman Gold Ring - 'Tertullus' (ca. 1st–3rd c. CE) EU 55 \/ US 7.25","description":"\u003cp\u003eA gold signet ring named 'Tertullus', set with a Roman carnelian intaglio of two deities, a seal that also placed its wearer under the gods' protection. A raised oval collet sits on wide shoulders that narrow into a slim hoop.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Engraving:\u003cbr\u003eThe standing deity, in profile, wears a helmet and a short tunic and raises one arm above the head; facing it, the second deity leans forward. A long staff with a round knob crosses the field, and a zigzag climbs the right edge. The cutter worked with drill and wheel, leaving heads and knees as small round hollows. Pressed into wax, the gem prints the scene in positive.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDetails:\u003cbr\u003eEra: Roman\u003cbr\u003eMaterial: Gold, carnelian intaglio\u003cbr\u003eRing Size: EU 55 \/ US 7.25\u003cbr\u003eWeight: 5.3 g\u003cbr\u003eCondition: Bright gold; a small dent at the collet rim; fine surface scratches on the carnelian\u003cbr\u003eProvenance: Private London collection; formerly in an Austrian private collection, 1980s to early 1990s.\u003cbr\u003eUnique Identifier: R-669-G\u003cbr\u003eAuthenticity: Comes with certificate of authenticity\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCondition and Authenticity:\u003cbr\u003eThis original comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and our written lifetime authenticity guarantee.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHistorical Context:\u003cbr\u003eCarnelian takes fine detail and lifts cleanly from wax, which made it a natural choice for Roman signet stones. Romans sealed letters, contracts and storerooms with such gems, and the image cut into the stone stood in for the owner's signature. The gold mount, possibly later than the gem, holds the stone in a raised oval collet. Choosing two gods for that image put the owner's affairs in divine hands.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOne small carnelian gave its wearer a seal and kept two gods close at hand.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eExplore more \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/ancient-roman-rings\"\u003eRoman rings\u003c\/a\u003e from our collection.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aurora Antiqua","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":64264824914250,"sku":"R-669-G","price":1800.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0897\/7140\/9738\/files\/tertullus-angled-front-view-of-the-gold-ring-and-its-carnelian-intaglio-1.jpg?v=1794040875"},{"product_id":"roman-gold-ring-velox-1st-3rd-c-ce-garnet-intaglio","title":"Roman Gold Ring - 'Velox' (ca. 1st–3rd c. CE) EU 58.25 \/ US 8.5","description":"\u003cp\u003eA Roman gold signet ring named 'Velox', set with a domed garnet intaglio, most likely of Pegasus, the winged horse of speed and inspiration. A low oval collet holds the stone, its dome standing proud of the rim.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Engraving:\u003cbr\u003eAn animal in profile stretches across the lower and middle part of the stone, its body formed by broad rounded hollows and a few fine strokes. A large curve sweeps up from its back toward the upper left, and a rounded mass sits at the upper right. In myth a stroke of Pegasus' hoof opened the spring of the Muses, and the winged horse rose at last to the stars: a sign of inspiration and of the climb to heaven.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDetails:\u003cbr\u003eEra: Roman\u003cbr\u003eMaterial: Gold, garnet intaglio\u003cbr\u003eRing Size: EU 58.25 \/ US 8.5\u003cbr\u003eWeight: 5 g\u003cbr\u003eCondition: Scuffs and fine abrasion on the shoulders and the back of the hoop, with reddish-brown spots; matte, pitted surface inside the hoop; small scratches on the garnet; pale deposit in the cuts\u003cbr\u003eProvenance: Private London collection; previously acquired on the Belgian art market in the 1990s.\u003cbr\u003eUnique Identifier: R-670-G\u003cbr\u003eAuthenticity: Comes with certificate of authenticity\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCondition and Authenticity:\u003cbr\u003eThis original comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and our written lifetime authenticity guarantee.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHistorical Context:\u003cbr\u003eIn this form the hoop swells steadily from a thin back into broad, plain shoulders that close around an oval collet, a frame made to carry an engraved stone. Garnet, deep red and hard, takes a crisp cut and keeps it through wear. Romans used such rings as seals: pressed into wax, the gem printed its image in relief and closed a letter or a contract in the owner's name. A winged horse on a seal added a wish for speed to that signature.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA plain gold frame holds the garnet and the sign of speed and inspiration cut into it.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eExplore more \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/ancient-roman-rings\"\u003eRoman rings\u003c\/a\u003e from our collection.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aurora Antiqua","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":64264826061130,"sku":"R-670-G","price":2200.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0897\/7140\/9738\/files\/velox-angled-front-view-of-the-gold-ring-and-its-dark-intaglio-1.jpg?v=1794040905"},{"product_id":"byzantine-silver-ring-pistos-4th-6th-c-ce-cross-intaglio","title":"Byzantine Silver Ring - 'Pistos' (ca. 4th–6th c. CE) EU 54.5 \/ US 7","description":"\u003cp\u003eA silver signet ring named 'Pistos', set with a Byzantine carnelian intaglio of a cross on a stepped base, the sign of Christ's sacrifice and salvation. Broad faceted shoulders taper away from a raised circular collet.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Engraving:\u003cbr\u003eThe cross is cut in narrow, straight lines: a tall upright and a short crossbar, their free ends slightly widened. Beneath it, three bars of increasing length build a flight of steps, with a short block where the upright meets them. The steps stand for the hill where Christ was crucified, so the cross recalls both his death and his victory over it.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDetails:\u003cbr\u003eEra: Byzantine\u003cbr\u003eMaterial: Silver, carnelian intaglio\u003cbr\u003eRing Size: EU 54.5 \/ US 7\u003cbr\u003eWeight: 4.9 g\u003cbr\u003eCondition: Grey silver with darker mottling and smoothed shoulder facets; the stone has been reset, its collet rim bright against the hoop; pale deposit along the hoop edges; dense fine scratches across the carnelian\u003cbr\u003eProvenance: Private London collection; previously in an Austrian private collection, 1980s to early 1990s.\u003cbr\u003eUnique Identifier: R-672-S\u003cbr\u003eAuthenticity: Comes with certificate of authenticity\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCondition and Authenticity:\u003cbr\u003eThis original comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and our written lifetime authenticity guarantee.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHistorical Context:\u003cbr\u003eEngraved and set in a finger ring, a carnelian became its owner's seal, pressed into wax to close letters and mark goods. The silver mount, possibly later than the gem, holds the stone in a raised collet with the rim worked over its edge. Where older seal stones had carried gods and heroes, a Christian could sign instead with a confession of faith. Carried on the body, the cross was also trusted to guard its wearer from harm.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn wax the stone signed with the cross; on the finger it kept that same sign with its owner.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eExplore more \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/byzantine-rings\"\u003eByzantine rings\u003c\/a\u003e from our collection.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aurora Antiqua","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":64264827437386,"sku":"R-672-S","price":1100.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0897\/7140\/9738\/files\/pistos-angled-front-view-of-the-silver-ring-and-its-cross-intaglio-1.jpg?v=1794040931"},{"product_id":"roman-gold-ring-aquilius-3rd-5th-c-ce-eagle-intaglio","title":"Roman Gold Ring - 'Aquilius' (ca. 3rd–5th c. CE) EU 58.25 \/ US 8.5","description":"\u003cp\u003eA Roman gold signet ring named 'Aquilius', set with a carnelian intaglio of an eagle's head, the bird of Jupiter and the emblem of the legions. A slender ribbed hoop carries the raised oval collet between two small gold granules.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Engraving:\u003cbr\u003eThe head is cut in profile from straight strokes: a long tapering cut forms the beak, short parallel cuts fan out behind it as plumage, and a straight line runs beneath. The style is schematic, so the head reads as an emblem rather than a study of the bird. In a wax impression the cut lines stand up in relief.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDetails:\u003cbr\u003eEra: Roman\u003cbr\u003eMaterial: Gold, carnelian intaglio\u003cbr\u003eRing Size: EU 58.25 \/ US 8.5\u003cbr\u003eWeight: 3.2 g\u003cbr\u003eCondition: Bright gold with fine scratches and scuffs on the inner hoop and back plate; the granule tops slightly flattened; slight damage at the rim of the carnelian; pale deposit in the engraved lines\u003cbr\u003eProvenance: Private London collection; formerly in a UK ancient art collection (early 2000s); previously in the collection of G.M., before 1996.\u003cbr\u003eUnique Identifier: R-673-G\u003cbr\u003eAuthenticity: Comes with certificate of authenticity\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCondition and Authenticity:\u003cbr\u003eThis original comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and our written lifetime authenticity guarantee.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHistorical Context:\u003cbr\u003eThe ring is assembled rather than cast: the ribbed hoop tapers at each end and laps onto the back plate of the collet, where it is soldered, and a single granule sits at each join. Set with an engraved carnelian, a ring like this gave its owner a seal to sign with. To Romans the eagle carried Jupiter's thunderbolt, and the legions marched behind it on their standards. On a personal seal, the same bird stood for the god's protection and for the power of the state.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn gold and carnelian, the ring set Jupiter's own bird on everything its owner sealed.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eExplore more \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/ancient-roman-rings\"\u003eRoman rings\u003c\/a\u003e from our collection.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aurora Antiqua","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":64264829567306,"sku":"R-673-G","price":2800.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0897\/7140\/9738\/files\/aquilius-angled-front-view-of-the-gold-ring-and-its-oval-carnelian-1.jpg?v=1794040953"},{"product_id":"roman-silver-ring-volucer-1st-3rd-c-ce-eagle-intaglio","title":"Roman Silver Ring - 'Volucer' (ca. 1st–3rd c. CE) EU 57.5 \/ US 8.25","description":"\u003cp\u003eA silver signet ring named 'Volucer', set with a Roman carnelian intaglio of an eagle's head, Jupiter's bird and a sign of power and authority. A broad, plain hoop carries a raised oval collet that holds the stone slightly proud.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Engraving:\u003cbr\u003eThe head turns to the left on the stone, so it faces right in a wax impression. A deep round hollow forms the head and eye, the beak hooks down sharply with two straight strokes along it, and rows of short oval cuts lay the feathers down the neck. No body or wings follow: the head alone stands for the bird.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDetails:\u003cbr\u003eEra: Roman\u003cbr\u003eMaterial: Silver, carnelian intaglio\u003cbr\u003eRing Size: EU 57.5 \/ US 8.25\u003cbr\u003eWeight: 9.8 g\u003cbr\u003eCondition: Silver-grey with patches of darker tarnish over a fine satin surface; pale deposit inside the hoop and at the base of the collet; dense fine scratches across the carnelian\u003cbr\u003eProvenance: Private London collection; previously in an Austrian private collection, 1980s to early 1990s.\u003cbr\u003eUnique Identifier: R-674-S\u003cbr\u003eAuthenticity: Comes with certificate of authenticity\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCondition and Authenticity:\u003cbr\u003eThis original comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and our written lifetime authenticity guarantee.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHistorical Context:\u003cbr\u003eEngravers worked hard stones such as carnelian with small rotating wheels and drills fed with abrasive powder, and a few deep, well-placed cuts could carry a whole subject. The silver mount, possibly later than the gem, frames it without ornament. Mounted in a ring, the engraved stone was its owner's seal, and its mark in wax stood for a signature. The eagle belonged to Jupiter, king of the gods, and in augury its flight was read as a sign of his favour, so the bird on a seal joined authority to good fortune.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEach impression left the eagle in the wax: the owner's mark, made under the eye of the highest god.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eExplore more \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/ancient-roman-rings\"\u003eRoman rings\u003c\/a\u003e from our collection.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aurora Antiqua","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":64264831074634,"sku":"R-674-S","price":1400.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0897\/7140\/9738\/files\/volucer-angled-front-view-of-the-silver-ring-and-its-eagle-head-carnelian-1.jpg?v=1794040983"},{"product_id":"roman-silver-ring-fulvus-3rd-4th-c-ce-lion-intaglio","title":"Roman Silver Ring - 'Fulvus' (ca. 3rd–4th c. CE) EU 57.5 \/ US 8.25","description":"\u003cp\u003eA silver signet ring named 'Fulvus', set with a Roman carnelian intaglio of a rampant lion, an emblem of strength and courage. Broad leaf-shaped shoulders with small curled volutes flank the round collet, and angled notches run along the hoop.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Engraving:\u003cbr\u003eThe lion rears to the left on a straight groundline, forelegs raised and haunches lowered onto the hind legs, with a small rounded form under the forepaws. Fine striations mark the mane on head and neck, and the long tail sweeps up and back to a tufted tip. Pressed into wax, the stone returns the lion in relief, facing right.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDetails:\u003cbr\u003eEra: Roman\u003cbr\u003eMaterial: Silver, carnelian intaglio\u003cbr\u003eRing Size: EU 57.5 \/ US 8.25\u003cbr\u003eWeight: 4.2 g\u003cbr\u003eCondition: Grey-black tarnish on hoop and shoulders, with fine parallel scratches on the shoulder faces; the collet rim bright; cream deposit in the volute hollows and the engraved lines; fine scratches across the stone\u003cbr\u003eProvenance: Private London collection; previously in an Austrian private collection, 1980s to early 1990s.\u003cbr\u003eUnique Identifier: R-675-S\u003cbr\u003eAuthenticity: Comes with certificate of authenticity\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCondition and Authenticity:\u003cbr\u003eThis original comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and our written lifetime authenticity guarantee.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHistorical Context:\u003cbr\u003eGem engravers modelled a body like this with the cutting wheel, going deeper where the muscles swell, so that the impression gives a living animal rather than an outline. The silver mount, possibly later than the gem, raises the stone on a stepped seat with a closed back. Set in a ring, such a gem served as its owner's seal. Romans placed lions on tombs as guardians, and a lion on a seal lent its owner the same fierce protection.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWherever its owner sealed, a rearing lion rose from the wax, a sign of courage.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eExplore more \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/ancient-roman-rings\"\u003eRoman rings\u003c\/a\u003e from our collection.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aurora Antiqua","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":64264837661002,"sku":"R-675-S","price":1200.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0897\/7140\/9738\/files\/fulvus-angled-front-view-of-the-silver-ring-and-its-lion-carnelian-1.jpg?v=1794041015"},{"product_id":"roman-gold-ring-candidus-1st-3rd-c-ce-rock-crystal-cabochon","title":"Roman Gold Ring - 'Candidus' (ca. 1st–3rd c. CE) EU 57 \/ US 8","description":"\u003cp\u003eA Roman gold ring named 'Candidus', set with a domed rock crystal cabochon and made for adornment. Broad, rounded shoulders swell from the hoop without a break to hold the stone.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Motif:\u003cbr\u003eThe oval stone is polished to a smooth dome. A thin lip of gold, without collet wire or claws, runs flush with its edge, so the dome rises straight out of the metal. With no design cut into it, the stone could leave no mark in wax; it was set to be seen, its polish framed by the gold.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDetails:\u003cbr\u003eEra: Roman\u003cbr\u003eMaterial: Gold, rock crystal cabochon\u003cbr\u003eRing Size: EU 57 \/ US 8\u003cbr\u003eWeight: 3 g\u003cbr\u003eCondition: Satin gold surface with dense fine scratches and small dents; a thin dark residue line where the stone meets the metal; brown spots on the stone and small chips near its edge\u003cbr\u003eProvenance: Private UK collection (M.A.); previously acquired on the London art market before 2000.\u003cbr\u003eUnique Identifier: R-677-G\u003cbr\u003eAuthenticity: Comes with certificate of authenticity\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCondition and Authenticity:\u003cbr\u003eThis original comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and our written lifetime authenticity guarantee.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHistorical Context:\u003cbr\u003eIn this Roman form, hoop and bezel make one continuous shape: the hoop widens steadily from the back into convex shoulders, and the goldsmith let the stone into the thickness of the bezel instead of raising it in a separate box. The result is a low, smooth outline in which gold and stone read as a single form. In Roman society a gold ring marked its wearer's wealth and standing, and a polished stone set into it made that display brighter still.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGold and one polished stone were all the ring needed to show its wearer's means.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eExplore more \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/ancient-roman-rings\"\u003eRoman rings\u003c\/a\u003e from our collection.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aurora Antiqua","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":64264841953610,"sku":"R-677-G","price":1400.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0897\/7140\/9738\/files\/candidus-angled-front-view-of-the-gold-ring-and-its-pale-stone-1.jpg?v=1794041042"},{"product_id":"byzantine-silver-ring-euangelos-9th-11th-c-ce-christ-bust","title":"Byzantine Silver Ring - 'Euangelos' (ca. 9th–11th c. CE) EU 61.5 \/ US 9.75","description":"\u003cp\u003eA Byzantine silver ring named 'Euangelos', engraved on its oval bezel with the bust of Christ holding the Gospels, his hand raised to bless the wearer. A narrow hoop of irregular facets runs beneath the flat plate.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Engraving:\u003cbr\u003eChrist faces forward with round drilled eyes, a long beard of parallel strokes and hair in radiating lines. His head is framed by a nimbus holding a cross of dotted double lines, a mark given to Christ and not to saints. His right hand is raised in blessing and his left holds the Gospel book with its dotted cover, so the image offers the wearer both his word and his blessing.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDetails:\u003cbr\u003eEra: Byzantine\u003cbr\u003eMaterial: Silver\u003cbr\u003eRing Size: EU 61.5 \/ US 9.75\u003cbr\u003eWeight: 4 g\u003cbr\u003eCondition: Pale matte field with scattered small pits and dark speckling; crisp engraved lines with a dark fill; worn, rounded rim; dark deposits in the recesses behind the plate\u003cbr\u003eProvenance: Private UK collection; acquired on the London art market in the 1980s.\u003cbr\u003eUnique Identifier: R-678-S\u003cbr\u003eAuthenticity: Comes with certificate of authenticity\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCondition and Authenticity:\u003cbr\u003eThis original comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and our written lifetime authenticity guarantee.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHistorical Context:\u003cbr\u003eIn this type the image is cut straight into the silver plate with a graver, and small round dots finish the design. The bust reads the right way round on the bezel, as on an icon, which suits a ring made for devotion; in wax it would print in reverse. This frontal Christ with book and blessing hand is the Pantokrator, Christ as Ruler of All, and on a ring the image placed its wearer under his protection.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFrom a small silver plate, the face of Christ kept watch over its wearer.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eExplore more \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/byzantine-rings\"\u003eByzantine rings\u003c\/a\u003e from our collection.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aurora Antiqua","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":64264846082378,"sku":"R-678-S","price":1300.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0897\/7140\/9738\/files\/euangelos-angled-front-view-of-the-silver-ring-and-its-engraved-oval-bezel-1.jpg?v=1794041073"},{"product_id":"byzantine-silver-ring-eusebios-6th-7th-c-ce-chi-rho","title":"Byzantine Silver Ring - 'Eusebios' (ca. 6th–7th c. CE) EU 60.25 \/ US 9.25","description":"\u003cp\u003eA Byzantine silver ring named 'Eusebios', its round bezel cut with the Chi-Rho, the monogram of Christ's name, worn as a blessing. Small disc collars mark the shoulders where the round wire hoop meets the thick bezel.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Engraving:\u003cbr\u003eThe letter chi (X) is crossed by a rho (P), its small open loop turned to the upper right and its upright ending in a short foot. A pellet sits to either side, and a border of short notches runs inside the rim. Chi and rho open the name Christos, so the pair writes Christ's name in a single sign.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDetails:\u003cbr\u003eEra: Byzantine\u003cbr\u003eMaterial: Silver\u003cbr\u003eRing Size: EU 60.25 \/ US 9.25\u003cbr\u003eWeight: 6 g\u003cbr\u003eCondition: Pale grey bezel face with a fine granular surface; hoop evenly pitted; bezel edges softened, the lines still crisp; grey-green deposit at the hoop join; small nick at the back rim of the bezel\u003cbr\u003eProvenance: Private UK collection; acquired on the London art market in the 1980s.\u003cbr\u003eUnique Identifier: R-679-S\u003cbr\u003eAuthenticity: Comes with certificate of authenticity\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCondition and Authenticity:\u003cbr\u003eThis original comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and our written lifetime authenticity guarantee.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHistorical Context:\u003cbr\u003eRather than being cast in one, the ring was built from parts: a hoop of round wire and a thick, separate disc set above it. The engraver cut the monogram in straight strokes of even width, and it reads correctly on the ring itself, a sign to be worn and seen; pressed into wax it would print in reverse. To its wearer the monogram stood for Christ himself, a profession of faith and a protection against harm.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTwo crossed letters, and the whole name of Christ stood written in silver.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eExplore more \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/byzantine-rings\"\u003eByzantine rings\u003c\/a\u003e from our collection.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aurora Antiqua","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":64264847065418,"sku":"R-679-S","price":1200.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0897\/7140\/9738\/files\/eusebios-angled-front-view-of-the-silver-ring-and-its-chi-rho-bezel-1.jpg?v=1794041104"},{"product_id":"byzantine-silver-ring-stauros-8th-10th-c-ce-cross-patee","title":"Byzantine Silver Ring - 'Stauros' (ca. 8th–10th c. CE) EU 59 \/ US 8.75","description":"\u003cp\u003eA Byzantine silver ring named 'Stauros', its stepped bezel centred on a raised cross with flaring arms, a confession of the Christian faith. Three rectangular tiers rise from a broad keeled hoop, with incised triangular panels on the shoulders.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Motif:\u003cbr\u003eAt the top of the bezel, a sunken round field holds a cross patée in relief, its four equal arms widening to broad straight ends. Two lower steps frame it, and on each shoulder an incised double line outlines a triangle filled with small S-scrolls, set off from the bezel by upright ribs. The cross asked Christ to protect its wearer.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDetails:\u003cbr\u003eEra: Byzantine\u003cbr\u003eMaterial: Silver\u003cbr\u003eRing Size: EU 59 \/ US 8.75\u003cbr\u003eWeight: 8 g\u003cbr\u003eCondition: Outer hoop smooth and bright with fine scratches; black and orange-buff deposits in every step, in the bezel field and under the bezel; soft wear on the high points of the cross and scrolls\u003cbr\u003eProvenance: Private UK collection; acquired on the London art market in the 1980s.\u003cbr\u003eUnique Identifier: R-681-S\u003cbr\u003eAuthenticity: Comes with certificate of authenticity\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCondition and Authenticity:\u003cbr\u003eThis original comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and our written lifetime authenticity guarantee.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHistorical Context:\u003cbr\u003eRings of this form raise their device on a stepped bezel, like a small pedestal standing on the hoop, so that it sits well above the finger. The tiers, ribs and cross appear to have been cast together, with the shoulder panels incised afterwards. A raised cross of this kind was worn for devotion rather than for sealing. In Byzantine belief the cross stood for Christ's victory over death, and a cross worn on the body was a guard against evil.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSet high on three silver steps, the cross put its wearer's faith where anyone could see it.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eExplore more \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/byzantine-rings\"\u003eByzantine rings\u003c\/a\u003e from our collection.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aurora Antiqua","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":64264849064266,"sku":"R-681-S","price":1400.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0897\/7140\/9738\/files\/stauros-angled-front-view-of-the-silver-ring-and-its-stepped-cross-bezel-1.jpg?v=1794041135"},{"product_id":"crusader-silver-ring-hartwin-12th-14th-c-ce-initial-seal","title":"Crusader Silver Ring - 'Hartwin' (ca. 12th–14th c. CE) EU 69 \/ US 12.75","description":"\u003cp\u003eA Crusader silver seal ring named 'Hartwin', its broad disc engraved with a stylised letter between a pennant and a fan, the owner's personal mark. The disc is much wider than the thin wire hoop and overhangs it on both sides.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Engraving:\u003cbr\u003eThe letter rises through the centre as a tall stroke with wedge-flared ends, filled with diagonal cross-hatching. On its left a short arm with a pellet links it to a small hatched pennant; on its right a fan of about nine tapering grooves opens outward. An incised circle and an outer band of short pecked strokes frame the field like a twisted cord. In wax, the cut design prints in relief, so the letter could stand for its owner.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDetails:\u003cbr\u003eEra: Medieval\u003cbr\u003eMaterial: Silver\u003cbr\u003eRing Size: EU 69 \/ US 12.75\u003cbr\u003eWeight: 2.8 g\u003cbr\u003eCondition: Even pale grey matte face with fine brown deposits in some grooves; pecked border softened in places, hatching still sharp; pale green deposits and yellowish patches at the soldered hoop ends behind the disc\u003cbr\u003eProvenance: Private UK collection; acquired on the London art market before 2000.\u003cbr\u003eUnique Identifier: R-682-S\u003cbr\u003eAuthenticity: Comes with certificate of authenticity\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCondition and Authenticity:\u003cbr\u003eThis original comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and our written lifetime authenticity guarantee.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHistorical Context:\u003cbr\u003eThe ends of the slender wire hoop are flattened into tabs and soldered to the back of the disc, so the hoop stops short of crossing beneath it. A disc this broad gave the engraver room for a bold device, cut freehand with a graver. A seal ring did the work of a signature: wax pressed with the owner's sign closed a letter or confirmed a document, and anyone who knew the sign knew whose it was.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe sign was engraved only once, yet every impression in wax gave its owner's word again.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eExplore more \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/medieval-crusader-rings\"\u003eMedieval rings\u003c\/a\u003e from our collection.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aurora Antiqua","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":64264850997578,"sku":"R-682-S","price":750.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0897\/7140\/9738\/files\/hartwin-angled-front-view-of-the-silver-ring-and-its-engraved-disc-bezel-1.jpg?v=1794041167"}],"url":"https:\/\/auroraantiqua.com\/collections\/ring-drop-2026-11-07.oembed","provider":"Aurora Antiqua","version":"1.0","type":"link"}