Finger Ring

Description

Roman silver finger ring with a carved glass intaglio: The bezel is oval with an oval cell within which the intaglio is placed. The upper and lower edges of the bezel have three small notches. As decoration, between the bezel and shoulders there is a vertical groove. The shoulders are tapered and narrowed in depth compared to the bezel and are otherwise undecorated. They taper towards the D-sectioned hoop which is incomplete and the breaks of the hoop are quite recent. The surface of the finger ring is tarnished. The style of the finger ring can be classified as a Henig (2007) Type Xb. The intaglio is made from orange glass with a flat face and a bevelled edge. The intaglio depicts an anchor with two fish hanging from its crossbar. The intaglio can be classified as a Henig (2007) Flat Type 2 or 4. The ingalio depicts a common early Christian symbol which was used as a device on finger rings worn by men and woman and was recommended by Bishop Clement of Alexandria c.200AD.

Object number

NOLMS:2019.008.

Object

FINGER RING

Production date

3rd century

Period

Roman

Material

Silver
Glass

Technique

Cast
Incised

Dimensions

Length: 21.29mm
Width: 9.55mm
Weight: 3.38g

Provenance

APPLEBY
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