Object Description
An ancient Roman silver ring featuring a D-shaped hoop and a protruding openwork bezel. The shoulders of the ring are modelled in the form of stylised fish heads, most likely dolphins, with pairs of incised concentric circles representing the eyes. The bezel presents a tiered design, comprised of an openwork circular base, on top of which four undulating dolphin ornaments have been attached to a tall tubular centrepiece. The ring is further enriched with a garnet cabochon inset, although now chipped, to the top of the tube. The piece was likely to have originally been used as a key ring with the central tube forming a mandrel, then adapted into decorative jewellery with the garnet stone added later in antiquity.
Closest UK ring size: between N and O
Date: Circa 3rd-4th century AD