Western Europe, Neoclassical Period, ca. 19th century CE. A gorgeous carnelian intaglio of ovoid form, skillfully hand-carved with the image of a woman at an altar and set in a gold ring to be wearable. Boasting a vibrant hue of vermilion, the elegant intaglio is said to represent a Roman Matron, Venus with Mars as a baby, or Calpurnia (76 BCE to ?), the third or fourth wife of Julius Caesar (100 to 44 BCE), at the moment when she consults the Penates on the fate of her husband before warning him not to go to the Senate on the day he was assassinated. The intaglio shows a seated woman in profile, wearing a veil and facing an altar of a small figure on the right. The slender band of the ring features lovely, incised decoration resembling cornucopias where it meets the bezel, while its interior of the band is stamped "14K" indicating the gold quality. Size (ring): 0.9" Diameter (2.3 cm); (intaglio): 0.6" W x 0.8" H (1.5 cm x 2 cm); gold quality: 60.25% (equivalent to 14K+); weight: 5.7 grams; US ring size: 3.75

Cf. the British Museum, 1887,0307,I.406, Raspe, Rudolf Erich, "A descriptive catalogue of a general collection of ancient and modern engraved gems, cameos as well as intaglios : taken from the most celebrated cabinets in Europe ; and cast in coloured pastes, white enamel, and sulphur," Vol. 1, London: J. Tassie and J. Murray, 1791, nos. 11016 to 11021, and Mariette, Pierre Jean, "Traite des Pierres gravees," Vol. 2, Paris: de l'Imprimerie de l'Auteur, 1750, no. 104.

Provenance: private East Coast collection, New York, New York, USA, acquired before 2010

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#169449

A few very light scratches to intaglio. Softening of detail to incised decoration on ring band. Otherwise, intact, excellent, and wearable.