Object Description
A fine Ancient Roman gold ring featuring a carnelian intaglio depicting the god Silenus, a rustic god of wine-making and drunkenness. The ring is comprised of a D-section hoop, expanding at the shoulders towards the bezel. The carnelian intaglio features a convex face and is set within a simple oval bezel. The image of an old, portly nude male is delicately carved into the semi-precious stone. Silenus is depicted leaping forwards whilst holding vines and what looks like thyrsus, the staff of Dionysus which consists of giant fennel covered with ivy vines and leaves, topped with a pine cone. The inclusion of the staff confirms the identity of the figure as a member of Dionysus’s retinue, currently swept up in a Bacchic celebration. The advanced craftsmanship includes much naturalistic detail, and the attention to anatomical accuracy imbues the depiction with an organic sense of movement.
This piece is accompanied by a museum-quality impression.
Internal Diameter: 1.5cm
Closest UK Ring Size: K 1/2
Date: Circa 1st-3rd Century AD