Photo © President and Fellows of Harvard College
Unable to open [object Object]: HTTP 0 attempting to load TileSource: https://ids.lib.harvard.edu/ids/iiif/408336757/info.json
Photo © President and Fellows of Harvard College
This object does not yet have a description.

Identification and Creation

Object Number
2012.1.14
Title
Signet Ring
Classification
Jewelry
Work Type
ring
Date
3rd-4th century
Period
Roman Imperial period, Late
Culture
Roman
Persistent Link
https://hvrd.art/o/178945

Physical Descriptions

Medium
Hammered gold ring with carnelian cameo
Technique
Hammered
Dimensions
2 cm (13/16 in.)

Provenance

Recorded Ownership History
The Alice Corinne McDaniel Collection, Department of the Classics, Harvard University (before 1952-2012), transfer; to the Harvard Art Museums, 2012.

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line
Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Transfer from the Alice Corinne McDaniel Collection, Department of the Classics, Harvard University
Accession Year
2012
Object Number
2012.1.14
Division
Asian and Mediterranean Art
Contact
am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
Permissions

The Harvard Art Museums encourage the use of images found on this website for personal, noncommercial use, including educational and scholarly purposes. To request a higher resolution file of this image, please submit an online request.

Descriptions

Description
The oval gem in this ring is carnelian. The intaglio carving depicts a draped woman, with a wreath or diadem over her head, standing right, holding out a globe in her left hand and a long staff or spear in her right. A simple incised line indicates the ground. The gold hoop varies in thickness. The oval bezel is raised, with slightly hunched shoulders.

Commentary
A ring of this type, with an intaglio carving, would have been worn as a signet ring.

Publication History

  • John Crawford, Sidney Goldstein, George M. A. Hanfmann, John Kroll, Judith Lerner, Miranda Marvin, Charlotte Moore, and Duane Roller, Objects of Ancient Daily Life. A Catalogue of the Alice Corinne McDaniel Collection Belonging to the Department of the Classics, Harvard University, ed. Jane Waldbaum, Department of the Classics (unpublished manuscript, 1970), M213, p. 219 [M. C. Marvin]

Exhibition History

Verification Level

This record has been reviewed by the curatorial staff but may be incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of Asian and Mediterranean Art at am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu