Description

The ring is composed of a 22 carats gold setting from the early XX century, around 1910s-1915s, in which a deep blue Ptolemaic lapis lazuli intaglio is set, attributable to the goldsmith production of the 3^rd-2^nd century BC. The intaglio, in particular, features the profile image of a Hellenistic woman of royal extraction, traditionally associated with Arsinoe, part of the Ptolemaic dynasty, among whom we remember Arsinoe IV, sister and rival of Cleopatra, often a deified figure associated with the Egyptian cult of Isis. The sharply sculpted profile of this female figure is striking not only for its quality and legibility, but also for the peculiarity of her hairstyle, in which her wavy hair, divided in the centre by a parting, is gathered in a bun, a typical iconography of goddesses that was adopted by the prominent women of the Ptolemaic dynasty. An example of Ptolemaic sculpture is preserved at the Michael C. Carlo Museum (inv. 1998.013.001). Furthermore, the ring is preserved in excellent condition, any marks or imperfections should be considered a potential added value to an object that has crossed centuries of history without ever losing its historical and artistic value.

Period: 3^rd-2^nd Century BC

Dimensions: 20 x 17 mm (intaglio: 0,8 x 0,6 mm)

Ring size: 5 ½ 

Weight: 14,27 gr