Object Description
A fine Ancient Roman iron ring bezel featuring a carnelian intaglio with an engraved depiction of a horse. The metal frames the inlay and extends to rounded shoulders, beyond which the loop has broken off in antiquity, as such only the bezel remains. The intaglio itself is oval in shape, horizontally situated, and of a rich, dark orange colouration. The obverse is gently convex, and the engraving is intricately rendered. The horse is depicted standing with its head leaning downwards towards the ground. Delicate incisions detail the texture of the body, as well as the legs, hooves, mane and tail. There is an excellent grasp of anatomy, shown through the detail to the horse’s musculature and facial features, including the ears and a round eye, which conveys a naturalistic bearing. Earthy encrustations features across the iron, and some minor scratches encrustations to the surface of the intaglio.
Date: Circa 1st-3rd Century AD