Roman, Imperial period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. A beautiful agate intaglio of a dolphin set into a modern gold ring of over 18 karats to be wearable. Presenting natural banded hues of white and apricot, the semi-translucent intaglio displays the sinuous body of the sea creature in profile swimming left with a slender snout, an annular eye, a crested dorsal fin, prominent flippers, and a bifurcated tail. The modern ring is comprised of a double band and an openwork, knot-like shoulder that holds the raised, ovoid bezel. The Romans were largely a maritime empire, and the iconography of the sea included dolphins. Romans believed these animals carried souls to the Fortunate Isles, perhaps because they could pass through the air-breathing terrestrial world and into the watery depths that claimed so many Roman sailors' lives. Size of ring: 1" L x 0.9" W (2.5 cm x 2.3 cm); of intaglio: 0.4" L x 0.3" W (1 cm x 0.8 cm); US ring size: 10; gold quality: 76.83% (equivalent to over 18 karats); weight: 5.1 grams

The dolphin was a strong motif in Classical culture as a whole; in the Homeric Hymn to Dionysus (Bacchus to the Romans) we learn that dolphins were once humans, created when sailors kidnapped Dionysus and he made them magically leap into the sea and transform into the grinning mammals. The dolphin was also considered the swiftest of all living beings and is associated with godliness and royalty because of its place as king of the sea.

Provenance: private Danvers, Massachusetts, USA collection, acquired by descent; ex-Bernheimer’s Antique Arts, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, acquired prior to 1992

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#179191

Ancient intaglio set in a modern gold ring to be wearable. Small nick below dolphin and light scratch to area on left, but imagery is still clear. Ring and intaglio are both intact and in very good condition. Accompanied by modern plastic ring box with velvet ring pad.